How is the quality of ACLED data ensured? - ACLED (2024)

FAQs

How is the quality of ACLED data ensured? - ACLED? ›

ACLED data are coded by a range of experienced researchers with knowledge of local contexts and languages who collect information mainly from secondary sources by applying the guidelines outlined in the Codebook and supplemental documentation to extract relevant information.

ACLED data are collected and coded by a team of experienced researchers with specific language skills and country knowledge. Review processes oversee the collected data to ensure intra-coder reliability (i.e. that the researcher has coded everything in their country consistently).

ACLED researchers systematically collect and review the latest reports from selected local, national and international sources, including media, vetted social media accounts, government and NGO reports, and partner organizations.

ACLED is the leading source of real-time data on political violence and protest activity around the world. We regularly provide the media with the latest figures on conflict events and fatalities, commentary on trends and dynamics, insight into ACLED data collection methodology, and more.

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data)

If you wish to cite a statistic based on ACLED data in text, please explicitly reference “ACLED” by name, along with a hyperlink. For example: “Political violence increased by 50% in Country X last month, according to ACLED.” (The hyperlink leads to the ACLED website).

ACLED is an event-based data project designed for disaggregated conflict analysis and crisis mapping. Data are updated weekly and can be downloaded using the Data Export Tool.

ACLED is led by founder and executive director Prof. Clionadh Raleigh, a professor of political violence and geography at the University of Sussex, and operated by director of research & innovation Dr. Roudabeh Kishi and director of programs & operations Olivia Russell.

The ACLED Conflict Alert System (CAST) is a conflict forecasting tool that predicts political violence events up to six months in the future for every country in the world. Updated predictions are released each month for the following six months, alongside accuracy metrics for previous forecasts.

The data are available for download through our export tool, curated data files, or API, after registering for an account on the ACLED Access Portal. Please consult our Terms of Use & Attribution Policy and our Terms of Use, Attribution Policy, and Data Access FAQs before proceeding.

Is ACLED data free? ›

ACLED data are free to the public for extensive, though not unlimited, use.

ACLED is the highest-quality and most widely used near real-time source on political violence and protest data worldwide. Our event-based dataset is designed for disaggregated conflict analysis and crisis mapping. All data are updated at the start of every week, through the most recent Friday.

The ACLED Conflict Index uses four indicators to measure conflict levels: deadliness, danger, diffusion, and fragmentation. The values for each indicator are calculated for each country or territory, scaled, and ranked.

UCDP-GED provides superior data for violence and fatalities, but ACLED distinguishes itself by being the only source for non-violent conflict related events like troop movements and governmental aid.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) is a non-governmental organization specializing in disaggregated conflict data collection, analysis, and crisis mapping.