How to Choose the Best Government API in 2026
There are 86 Government APIs in our directory. Of these, 62 require no authentication, making them ideal for quick prototyping. 62 are rated beginner-friendly.
Scores last tested: 2026-08-10
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Government APIs
Ranked by API Score. Measured means we called a real endpoint of that API; Est. means the score is derived from metadata because the endpoint could not be called without credentials. Discontinued APIs are excluded.
| Name | API Score | Auth | HTTPS | CORS | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interpol Red Notices | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| Open Government, Norway | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| City, New York Open Data | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| FBI Wanted | 87 A Measured | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| National Park Service, US | 87 A Est. | API Key | ✓ | ✓ | Intermediate |
| Open Government, Austria | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| Open Government, Portugal | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| Open Government, Victoria State Government | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| Open Government, West Australia | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
| USAspending.gov | 87 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ? | Beginner |
Free Government APIs (No Auth)
These APIs require no API key or signup. Start using them immediately.
Bank Negara Malaysia Open Data
⭐ Beginner's PickBank Negara Malaysia Open Data provides free access to official financial data published by Malaysia's central bank, including exchange rates, interest rates, and key economic indicators.
BCLaws
BCLaws gives you free access to the full text of British Columbia's laws and regulations.
Brazil
⭐ Beginner's PickBrasilAPI is a free, community-driven API that centralizes public data about Brazil in one easy-to-use place.
Brazil Central Bank Open Data
The Brazil Central Bank Open Data API provides free access to official financial and economic data from Brazil s central bank (Banco Central do Brasil).
Brazil Receita WS
Brazil Receita WS lets you look up official information about Brazilian companies using their CNPJ (tax registration number).
Brazilian Chamber of Deputies Open Data
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies Open Data API provides free access to legislative information from Brazil s lower house of Congress.
Try It in 5 Minutes: Bank Negara Malaysia Open Data
Quick implementation example using Bank Negara Malaysia Open Data.
Using curl
curl "https://apikijangportal.bnm.gov.my/openapi/kijang/public/exchange-rate"
JavaScript
const url = "https://apikijangportal.bnm.gov.my/openapi/kijang/public/exchange-rate";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data); New to APIs? Read our Getting Started Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Government APIs are available?
There are 86 Government APIs in our directory as of 2026.
Are there free Government APIs?
Yes, 62 Government APIs require no authentication and are completely free to use.
What is the easiest Government API to use?
Bank Negara Malaysia Open Data is one of the easiest to get started with. It is rated as beginner-level and requires no authentication.
Do I need an API key for Government APIs?
It depends. 62 APIs need no authentication, 15 require an API key, and 3 use OAuth.