PRB Statement on Public Data as a Public Good for the Common Good

Public data touches nearly every aspect of our lives. It tells the story of who we are, what we need, and where we’re going. This data matters and it belongs to all of us.

It includes information like how many children are enrolled in school, how far families travel to reach a hospital, and where new jobs are emerging. Although we don’t always see it, public data quietly shapes the world around us. It guides how governments allocate resources and how people hold power to account.

When public data is accurate and accessible, it drives national progress, upholds individual rights, and strengthens the promise of shared prosperity.

But today, that promise is imperiled. Here in the United States, key datasets have quietly disappeared from government websites. Longstanding statistical programs have been defunded or deprioritized. These are signs of a deeper erosion of the systems that safeguard transparency, citizen participation, and inclusive growth.

At PRB, we are committed to ensuring that public data remains a public good that serves the common good. That means fostering open, inclusive data systems, building and sustaining communities of data users, and working in partnership with the people whose health and well-being depend on our collective ability to make informed decisions.

Behind every number is a person. And when we protect public data, we protect their dignity, voice, and future.

Jennifer D. Sciubba
President and CEO
Population Reference Bureau

About PRB

PRB promotes and supports evidence-based policies, practices and decision-making to improve the health and well-being of people throughout the world. Find out more at prb.org. Follow us @PRBdata.