The State of Open Data 2025 report was published last week and marks ten years of the survey, providing an updated picture of how researchers are approaching data sharing today. Drawing on responses from over 4,700 researchers across 151 countries, alongside expert interviews, the report combines current findings with longitudinal analysis to show where open data sharing has become routine and where practical and structural constraints continue to affect researchers.   

Key takeaways from the 10th anniversary report  

• Support for open practices remains high 
  88% of respondents support open access publishing, 81% support open data, and 76% support open peer review. These figures indicate that openness is now widely accepted as part of standard research practice, even where implementation remains challenging. 

• Support for national open data mandates has declined 
  While support for openness remains strong overall, confidence in national open data mandates has decreased in several countries as researchers encounter practical challenges with implementation. The steepest declines were observed in Australia, where strong support fell from 63% in 2016 to 27% in 2025, and in Brazil, where it declined from 65% to 39% over the same period. 

• Many researchers still feel under-recognised for sharing their data 
  69% of respondents said researchers receive too little credit for sharing data. Although this represents a modest improvement since 2020, most researchers still perceive a mismatch between the effort required to share data well and how those contributions are recognised. 

• Use of AI tools in data workflows is increasing 
  Between 2024 and 2025, active use of AI for data processing increased from 22% to 32%, and for metadata creation from 16% to 25%. The report notes growing experimentation, alongside the need for clear standards and responsible use. 

What this means in practice 

Together, these findings point to a research environment where expectations around data sharing are high, but researchers’ ability to meet those expectations varies. For those looking to strengthen their own data sharing, the following practical guidance may help. 

Practical guidance for improving your own data sharing 

Acknowledge your data! Citing data is the formal way to do this. 

Don’t overlook the data you’ve used or generated as part of your research. Identify and share it where possible.

Make sure your sensitive research data are shared appropriately. 

Write a Data Availability Statement.

Join the webinar

Join the team during Love Data Week for a live webinar on the State of Open Data 2025: A Decade of Progress and Challenges. The session will highlight how researcher attitudes and practices around open data have changed over the past decade, and where progress has been uneven. A Q&A will follow. 

Webinar Date: February 11, 2026 3:00 pm GMT 

You can download the full, State of Open Data 2025 report here.