canonical: https://jentic.com/apis/abs.gov.au/abs

# Abs Australian Bureau of Statistics Data API

Jentic publishes the only available OpenAPI specification for Australian Bureau of Statistics Data API, keeping it validated and agent-ready. The ABS Data API serves official Australian statistics in the SDMX format: an agent can list the published dataflows, read the data for a chosen dataflow and data key, and resolve the data structures, codelists, and concept schemes that describe each series. It is a public, read-only service covering national accounts, labour, prices, and population figures.

## For AI agents

Query Australian Bureau of Statistics statistical data, dataflows, codelists, and concept schemes. Covers 6 read operations over a public, no-auth service.

## Scope

Does not handle data visualization or any write operations - use it for reading Australian Bureau of Statistics data only.

## Capabilities

- Retrieve statistical data for a chosen dataflow and data key
- List all available ABS dataflows
- Get the details of a single dataflow
- Get a data structure definition
- Get codelist values
- Get a concept scheme

## Use cases

### Read official Australian statistics

Pull published Australian Bureau of Statistics figures straight into an agent workflow. The agent lists the available dataflows, picks the one it needs, and reads the series for a given data key.

Example prompt: Call GET `/dataflow/ABS` to list dataflows, then GET `/data/{dataflow_id}/{data_key}` for the series

### Resolve dataflow metadata

Make raw statistical codes human-readable. The agent fetches a dataflow's data structure, then resolves its codelists and concept schemes so dimension values can be labelled correctly.

Example prompt: Call GET `/datastructure/ABS/{structure_id}`, then GET `/codelist/ABS/{codelist_id}` to label the dimensions

### Monitor an economic indicator

Track a specific indicator over time. The agent reads the same dataflow and data key on a schedule and compares the latest observations against previous runs.

Example prompt: Call GET `/data/{dataflow_id}/{data_key}` on a schedule and diff the latest values

## Key endpoints

| Method | Path | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GET | `/data/{dataflow_id}/{data_key}` | Get statistical data for a dataflow and data key |
| GET | `/dataflow/ABS` | List all available dataflows |
| GET | `/dataflow/ABS/{dataflow_id}` | Get dataflow details |
| GET | `/datastructure/ABS/{structure_id}` | Get a data structure definition |
| GET | `/codelist/ABS/{codelist_id}` | Get codelist values |
| GET | `/conceptscheme/ABS/{scheme_id}` | Get a concept scheme |

## Key resources

- **Dataflows** — The published statistical datasets exposed by the ABS Data API
- **Data** — Observations for a dataflow addressed by a data key
- **Data Structures** — Definitions describing the dimensions of a dataflow
- **Codelists** — Allowed values for the dimensions of a data structure
- **Concept Schemes** — Concepts referenced by the data structures

## AI readiness

This API is usable in Jentic One now. Its AI-readiness score against Jentic's framework shows where it stands today and where improvements would make it even easier for agents to use.

- **Score:** 65 / 100
- **Maturity:** AI-Aware
- **Dimensions:**
  - Foundational Compliance: 81 / 100
  - Developer Experience & Jentic Compatibility: 63 / 100
  - AI-Readiness & Agent Experience: 47 / 100
  - Agent Usability: 94 / 100
  - Security: 100 / 100
  - AI Discoverability: 48 / 100
- **View full report:** https://jentic.com/apis/abs.gov.au/abs/scorecard
- **How the score is calculated:** https://docs.jentic.com/reference/api-readiness-framework/overview/
- **More about the dimensions:** https://docs.jentic.com/reference/api-readiness-framework/specification/#dimensional-model-overview

### Score it yourself

Every API in the directory is allowlisted, so you can re-score it with no key required.

- **Score your own API:** https://jentic.com/scorecard.md
- **Scoring CLI agent skill:** https://github.com/jentic/jentic-api-scorecard/blob/main/skills/jentic-api-scorecard/SKILL.md

```sh
npx @jentic/api-scorecard-cli score <openapi-url>
```

## Why Jentic

- **Setup:** Wiring the ABS Data API by hand means learning its SDMX-style paths, pointing at the data.api.abs.gov.au host, and shaping dataflow and data-key requests yourself. Through Jentic you install once, import the ABS Data API from the Jentic API Directory, and your agent calls it.
- **Permission scoping:** The ABS Data API is read-only, so nothing can be mutated. You still choose which of the six operations your agent may call, and because the dataflow id sits in the URL path (`/data/{dataflow_id}/{data_key}`), a rule can pin the agent to a single dataflow so it reads that series and nothing else.
- **Credential handling:** The ABS Data API is public and needs no credential, so there is nothing to store or inject. Your agent reaches it directly through your own Jentic One instance.
- **Discovery method:** Agents search Jentic by intent such as 'list ABS dataflows' or 'get labour force statistics', and Jentic returns the matching ABS operation with its input schema so the agent calls the right endpoint without reading the SDMX reference.

## Related APIs

- **US Census Bureau** — Alternative national statistics API
- **Alpha Vantage** — Complementary economic and market data API
- **USA.gov** — Complementary government data API

## FAQ

### Why is there no official OpenAPI spec for the ABS Data API?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes the ABS Data API but does not ship a machine-readable OpenAPI description for it. Jentic wrote and validated one so agents can discover and call the service. To run it on your own infrastructure, install Jentic One from its GitHub repo.

### What authentication does the ABS Data API use?

None. The ABS Data API is a public service, so there is no key or token to supply. Through Jentic your agent calls it directly, and the operations it may call are governed by your own rules.

### What can an agent do with the ABS Data API?

It can list the published dataflows, read the observations for a dataflow and data key, and resolve the data structures, codelists, and concept schemes that describe each series. The responses are structured so an agent can parse and act on them directly.

### What are the rate limits for the ABS Data API?

Rate limits are not specified in the OpenAPI spec. Check the Australian Bureau of Statistics documentation for current limits. Through Jentic, retries are handled in the execution layer.

### How many endpoints does the ABS Data API have?

The ABS Data API exposes 6 read endpoints covering dataflows, data, data structures, codelists, and concept schemes.

### Can I limit what my agent is allowed to do with the ABS Data API?

Yes. Jentic One is self-hosted by you, so your own rules decide which ABS operations your agent may call. The service is read-only, so nothing can be mutated, and because the dataflow id sits in the URL path, such as `/data/{dataflow_id}/{data_key}`, a rule can pin the agent to a single dataflow and nothing else.