How to Search For and Access Data on GHDx

Updated

GHDx (Global Health Data Exchange) is a catalog of surveys, censuses, vital statistics, and other health-related datasets. You can search it from the homepage search form, browse by country, or use the main menu to explore datasets, then download IHME data under the posted usage terms. This guide covers the practical steps and the main points where people get stuck.

Start With the Homepage Search Form

The fastest path is the search form on the GHDx homepage.

  1. Go to ghdx.healthdata.org.
  2. Find the Search Data area on the homepage.
  3. Enter a term — a country, a survey name, a health topic, or an indicator.
  4. Submit the search and review the results list.

What to expect: results are catalog records, not the data files themselves. A record tells you what the dataset is, who produced it, and where it came from. The download link, when one exists, sits on the record page.

Common snag: a broad term returns a long list. Narrow it with a country name plus a topic, or use the exact name of the survey or dataset you already know you want.

Browse by Country Instead of Searching

If you don't know the dataset name, browsing beats guessing keywords.

  • Use the Countries entry point to pick a country.
  • Review the datasets cataloged for that country.
  • Open individual records to see coverage, source, and availability.

This works well when your question is "what data exists for this place?" rather than "where is this specific file?"

Use the Main Menu to Explore by Category

The main menu gives you the other routes into the catalog. Use it when you want to see what kinds of data exist rather than chase one file. The catalog spans:

  • Surveys
  • Censuses
  • Vital statistics
  • Other health-related data

Practical tip: if a search returns nothing useful, switch to browsing. Catalog coverage varies by country and topic, so an empty search result often means the term didn't match a record title, not that no data exists.

Getting the Data: Download and Usage Terms

Download options are available for IHME data. The homepage states that data made available for download by IHME can be used, shared, modified, or built upon by non-commercial users under the IHME Free-of-Charge Non-Commercial User Agreement. For more information, including inquiries about commercial use, the site points to IHME Terms and Conditions.

Two things to check before you plan around a download:

  • Whether the record has a download at all. GHDx is a catalog; some records describe data held elsewhere.
  • Whether your use is non-commercial. If it isn't, the posted terms direct you to IHME for commercial inquiries.

The site also references a subscription signal, so don't assume every resource behind a record is open — verify on the record page.

A Quick Decision Guide

Your situation Best route
You know the dataset or survey name Homepage search form
You know the country, not the dataset Browse by Countries
You want to see what categories exist Main menu
You need IHME data for non-commercial use Record page download, under the posted agreement
You need data for commercial use Check IHME Terms and Conditions before relying on a download

Verification and Common Sticking Points

  • Confirm you're on the record page, not just the results list, before concluding a download is or isn't available.
  • Read the usage terms on the record you actually download. Terms attach to the data, and the homepage statement covers IHME-provided downloads specifically.
  • Check the source and coverage fields so you don't build an analysis on a dataset that doesn't match your population or time period.
  • If a search fails, browse. The catalog is organized by country and category as well as by search terms.

For background on what the catalog is and how it's structured, see GHDx Help, linked from the site.