canonical: https://jentic.com/apis/uis.unesco.org/uis-unesco

# Uis Unesco UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API

The UIS Data API serves UNESCO Institute for Statistics figures on education, science, technology, innovation, culture, and demographic/socioeconomic topics. Agents query indicator data by geo-unit and indicator, read geographic-unit, indicator, framework, glossary and disaggregation definitions, and export results as CSV, Excel or JSON. Every response is tied to a dated data version, and the default version endpoint reports which one is current.

## For AI agents

Read published UNESCO Institute for Statistics figures: get the default (latest) data version, query indicator data by geo-unit and indicator, read geographic-unit, indicator, framework and glossary definitions, and export definitions or results as CSV, Excel or JSON. Covers 20 read-only operations.

## Scope

Does not submit or edit data, and does not handle payments or communications - all 20 operations are read-only queries over published UIS statistics.

## Capabilities

- Get the default (latest) data version
- List all data versions
- Export geographic units definitions
- Query indicator data
- Get statistics by theme

## Use cases

### Published Statistics Lookups

Use the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API to read published statistics programmatically: get the default (latest) data version, list all data versions, and list the geographic units the figures are reported for.

Example prompt: Call GET `/api/public/versions/default` to get the default (latest) data version

### Automated Data Management

Automate data operations by combining multiple UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API endpoints. Agents can list all data versions and then list all geographic units in a single workflow.

Example prompt: Call GET `/api/public/versions` to list all data versions, then verify the result

### AI Agent Integration via Jentic

AI agents discover and call UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API endpoints through Jentic without reading the reference docs first. An agent searches for the required operation by intent, receives the matching endpoint schema, and executes the call. This API is open, so there is no token to configure once it has been imported.

Example prompt: Search Jentic for 'get the default (latest) data version', load the operation schema, and execute with Jentic-managed credentials

## Key endpoints

| Method | Path | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GET | `/api/public/versions/default` | Get the default (latest) data version |
| GET | `/api/public/versions` | List all data versions |
| GET | `/api/public/definitions/geounits` | List all geographic units |
| GET | `/api/public/definitions/geounits/export` | Export geographic units definitions |
| GET | `/api/public/definitions/indicators` | List all indicator definitions |
| GET | `/api/public/definitions/indicators/export` | Export indicator definitions |
| GET | `/api/public/data/indicators` | Query indicator data |
| GET | `/api/public/data/indicators/export` | Export indicator data |

## Key resources

- **Data** — Query indicator data by indicator and geo-unit, and export the result as a downloadable file in CSV, Excel or JSON.
- **Data Browser** — Version-scoped resources behind the UIS Data Browser: theme-level statistics, the browser's default version, and per-version indicator, framework, geo-unit, disaggregation and glossary definitions plus indicator changes.
- **Definitions** — List the geographic units and indicators the figures are reported for, or export either definition set as CSV, Excel or JSON.
- **Versions** — List every published data version and read the default (latest) one that responses are tied to.

## 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:** 67 / 100
- **Maturity:** AI-Aware
- **Dimensions:**
  - Foundational Compliance: 74 / 100
  - Developer Experience & Jentic Compatibility: 58 / 100
  - AI-Readiness & Agent Experience: 50 / 100
  - Agent Usability: 94 / 100
  - Security: 100 / 100
  - AI Discoverability: 70 / 100
- **View full report:** https://jentic.com/apis/uis.unesco.org/uis-unesco/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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data API by hand means matching each versions, definitions, and data operation to its query parameters and handling the CSV and Excel export responses yourself. Through Jentic you install once, import the UIS Data API from the API Directory, and your agent calls it. There is no key to obtain, because every one of its 20 operations is public.
- **Permission scoping:** The UIS Data API exposes read operations over versions, definitions, and indicator data, so scope your agent to the ones it needs, such as reading the default version or querying indicators. You choose the operations it may call, so it is limited to the queries you enable and nothing more.
- **Credential handling:** This API needs nothing secret: its operations are public reads, so there is nothing to hold for it. Where an API does require one, your own Jentic One instance keeps it encrypted and injects it at execution time, so it never enters the agent's prompt, logs, or context.
- **Discovery method:** Agents search Jentic by intent such as 'get the default data version' or 'list indicator definitions', and Jentic returns the matching UIS Data API operation with its input schema so the agent calls the right endpoint without browsing the reference docs.

## Related APIs

- **Census Data API** — Official statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau instead of UNESCO's cross-country indicators
- **ONS Developer Hub API** — UK national statistics published by the Office for National Statistics
- **UN World Population Data Portal API** — UN Population Division demographic series that pair with UIS education and science indicators
- **IPUMS API** — Harmonized census and survey microdata rather than published aggregate indicators

## FAQ

### What authentication does the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API use?

None. The spec declares no security schemes, and all 20 operations are open reads, so your agent calls them without a key. Through Jentic the calls still go through your own self-hosted instance, and your rules decide which of those operations the agent may use.

### Can I get the default (latest) data version with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API?

Yes. Use the GET `/api/public/versions/default` endpoint. The API returns structured JSON responses that agents can parse and act on directly.

### What are the rate limits for the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API?

Rate limits are not specified in the OpenAPI spec. Check the vendor documentation for current limits.

### How do I get the default (latest) data version through Jentic?

Install Jentic One on the machine that will host it, then run jentic register on the machine where your agent runs, and import the UIS Data API from the API Directory. Your agent searches by intent for 'get the default (latest) data version', receives the matching operation with its input schema, and executes the call.

### Is there a UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API MCP server?

You do not need an MCP server to give your agent the UIS Data API. Jentic connects it directly from the API Directory: import the UIS Data API and your agent can read data versions, geographic-unit and indicator definitions, and query or export indicator data, without another server's tool definitions sitting in its context.

### How many endpoints does the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API have?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API exposes 20 endpoints covering data, data browser, definitions operations.

### Can I limit what my agent is allowed to do with the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) Data API?

Yes. Because Jentic One is self-hosted, your own rules decide which UIS Data API operations the agent may call, so you can grant only the read endpoints it needs, such as getting the default data version, listing version history, reading geographic-unit and indicator definitions, or querying and exporting indicator data. If your agent only needs to query indicators, you can enable that operation and leave every other endpoint unavailable. It is limited to the queries you turn on and can do nothing beyond them.