Our story
The World Data Lab story
2014
The Journey Begins
Homi Kharas and Wolfgang Fengler, both seasoned World Bank alumni, spot a glaring gap: the scarcity of trustworthy data on developing nations. Population.io - Wolfgang's pioneering project and TED talk - puts WDL on the map.
2017
Debunking the Poverty Myth
From two simple tables in a Vienna co-working space, WDL unveils the World Poverty Clock - challenging the prevailing narrative and asking whether people are genuinely growing poorer. Tools on hunger, water, migration and skills follow.
2018
Expanding Horizons
Market Pro - now World Data Intelligence - is born, extending WDL's demographic engine into commercial forecasting of consumer spending. The US office opens in Washington DC.
2022
Addressing the Data Desert
WDL opens its Nairobi office, empowering African data scientists to build African insights. The Internet Poverty Index marks a shift from measuring pre-existing indicators to crafting new ones.
2023
Growth & Investment
A team of more than 50 professionals, a new expansive office and a Series A investment from Sparring Capital Partners, CHI Impact Capital and Catagonia position WDL for its next chapter.
Today
Quantifying 8 Billion Consumers
World Data Intelligence delivers harmonised projections across 190+ countries, 9,000+ cities and 200+ categories - trusted by a global beauty brand, Uber, Mastercard Foundation, Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive.