The Library Map of the World brings together the most up‑to‑date library data available from as many countries as possible. Contributors in each country and territory provide the data. Together, we aim to build a reliable global picture of libraries.
What statistics can you find in the Data Lab?
The Data Lab includes 15 core metrics with information across all major library types: national, academic, public, community, school, and others. It contains every data point submitted by contributors since the project launched in 2017.
The metrics include:
- Number of libraries – including administrative units and service points; where possible broken down into main and branch libraries, external service points, and mobile libraries
- Number of libraries with Internet access
- Number of full-time library staff
- Number of volunteers
- Number of registered users
- Number of physical visits
- Number of physical loans
- Number of eBook loans
- Number of audio book loans
- Number of downloads
Definitions for metrics, library types, and data sources are adapted from ISO 2789, Information and documentation – International library statistics. Detailed definitions and counting instructions are available in the IFLA Repository.
Key features of the Data Lab
- Metric views: See metrics as totals or per 1 million population. You can focus on a single library type or metric and compare data year by year.
- Regional & country views: Compare data across IFLA regions – Asia-Oceania, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, and Sub‑Saharan Africa. The naming of countries and territories follows United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) The allocation of countries into regions is based on a decision of the IFLA Governing Board, reflecting the United Nations Regional Commissions structure. The designations employed in the Library Map of the World do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFLA concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The term “country” as used in the Data Lab may also refer to territories or areas.
- Print & download: Print any filtered view or download full, regional, or country-level datasets in CSV format. Downloading the data also lets you create your own comparisons.
Data limitations
The Library Map of the World gathers the most recent national‑level statistics available, but some limitations should be kept in mind:
- Data sources: Countries differ in how much data they can provide. Some offer complete datasets across all library types and metrics, while others can only supply partial information. Data may come from national or regional statistical offices, government ministries, NGOs, universities, research institutes, national libraries, or library associations. Where available, the Data Lab identifies the source—official statistics, census survey, sample survey, administrative data, derived data, or other.
- Partial data: Some countries have data for all library types; others only for some (for example, public or academic libraries). In some cases, data is collected from only part of the library sector. These situations are noted in the data notes when information is available.
- Time coverage: Data availability over time varies across countries. While the Library Map of the World has been collecting data since 2017, not all contributors provide updates every year. Some countries submit annual data, resulting in complete time series, while others provide information only for selected years. This should be taken into account when analysing trends or making year‑to‑year comparisons.
What can you use this data for?
Reliable data is essential for library advocacy—it supports arguments, strengthens evidence, and increases credibility. Through the Library Map of the World, IFLA aims to improve global access to data about libraries and their role in communities.
Sharing data helps raise the profile of libraries within each participating country and enables cross-country and international comparisons.
IFLA’s Statement on Open Library Data calls on governments to collect or support library data collection and to make it openly available. The Library Map of the World supports this by offering fully open access to downloadable datasets for further analysis.
Engage with us
If your organisation would like to become a contributor, or collaborate with the current contributor for your country, please contact us at [email protected].