Singapore has a strong digital landscape with high social media and internet penetration rates. So far in 2025, the internet has enjoyed a 95.8% penetration rate with 5.61 million users, and social media has seen 5.16 million active users, which equals 88.2% of the population. The country’s data-driven culture is there for all to see, with its increasing usage of data for different applications such as workforce development and supply chain management, and its focus on smart urbanism and digital transformation.
Open data is important for data science because it is transparent, accessible, and potentially more innovative and collaborative in all spheres where data science is used. Both the government and the private sector support open data significantly in Singapore, with the government-led Data.gov.sg acting as a central repository. The private sector also contributes actively to the data-driven environment.
This blog will discuss the best open data sources you can use as a student in Singapore and how useful they can be for your projects and other academic and professional endeavours.
Source: Data Reportal
Also Read: Essential Python Fundamentals Every Aspiring Data Scientist Should Know
Top Open Data Sources for Data Science Projects in Singapore
Using open datasets for projects in Singapore can make your work more accountable and transparent. Depending on the scale and topic of your project, this can also enhance citizen engagement and public policy and demonstrate the potential for economic growth and innovation.
| Name of Source | Salient Feature |
| Data.gov.sg | Official open data portal of the Singapore government. |
| Kaggle | Offers datasets created by users, often from data science competitions. |
| Google Dataset Search | Simple interface that works like a regular Google search for datasets. |
| GitHub | Allows filtering of dataset repositories by programming language and keywords. |
| World Bank Open Data | Enables data search by country, topic, and development indicators. |
Data.gov.sg
Data.gov.sg helps all users discover the open government data of Singapore and comprehend and use it as well. It collaborates with government agencies and consistently creates valuable data that empowers people to make informed decisions and innovate. It offers several great benefits, such as the following:
- One-stop access
- Enhanced communication
- Catalysing innovation
- Facilitated research and analysis
- User-friendly tools
Kaggle
There are thousands of datasets on Kaggle – small and big – and you can download all of them for free. The platform has formatted most of them as .cvs files. A lot of these datasets are interesting in that they originated in competitions meant for data science enthusiasts. One example of such a dataset is the Titanic dataset that users can use to practice building machine learning models that predict which passengers survived the shipwreck.
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Google Dataset Search
Google launched Google Dataset Search in 2018, and ever since, it has helped people access public datasets and download them for free. It has a wide range of topics to choose from in formats such as the following:
- .csv
- .jpg
- .txt
People universally regard it as one of the world’s best open source data science tools.
GitHub
GitHub has thousands of large and small datasets for various data analysis requirements. Here, users can filter the search results based on keywords and language. This way, they can choose topics that interest them and get content curated based on their interests.
World Bank Open Data
Experts consider the World Bank Open Data one of the most diverse and richest sources of free datasets and statistical facts. Here, users can search based on categories such as indicator and country, and find demographic information like:
- Population
- Education
- Income Levels
- Economy
- Healthcare Status
Also Read: Data Science Master’s Vs. Self-Learning In Singapore
Why Are Open Data Sources Important?
Students must be able to use the data they have the right to use and publish, especially when making their work available to the public. Also crucial in this context is knowing where to find datasets. The issue with using proprietary datasets is that students need permission to use the data, which can take a long time. This makes open datasets available online a much better option. In the public domain, countries such as the US are pushing for such datasets to increase accountability and transparency and encourage evidence-based policymaking.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Open Data Sources for Data Science Projects
Q: What are the best open data sources available for data science projects in Singapore?
Ans: The best open sources for a data science project in Singapore are:
- Data.gov.sg
- Kaggle
- Google Dataset Search
- GitHub
- World Bank Open Data
- Data.world
- DataHub
- Humanitarian Data Exchange
- FiveThirtyEight
- UCI Machine Learning Depository
Q: Where can I find reliable Singapore government open datasets?
Ans: Data.gov.sg is your best option if you are looking for free datasets on government data in Singapore. It works with government agencies and consistently creates valuable data for the users.
Q: What types of data are publicly available in Singapore?
Ans: The most standard types of data publicly available in Singapore are:
- Environment and Weather
- Transportation
- Business and Economy
- Public Health
- Geospatial Data
Q: Do Singapore open data sources provide APIs for programmatic access?
Ans: Yes, data.gov.sg, Singapore’s open data portal, provides APIs for programmatic access to different datasets. These APIs let developers integrate government data into their services and applications.
Q: Are there any licensing restrictions on using Singapore’s open data for commercial projects?
Ans: Yes, there are licensing restrictions that users must consider when using open data sources for their projects, especially for commercial projects. Such restrictions, however, apply to specific datasets only, not all.
