Where Does the Data Come From?

Last updated on May 2025

Our Data Sources

Primary Sources

GeopoliticsSim’s simulation is built on data from authoritative international institutions:

Data Type	Primary Source
GDP, trade, demographics	World Bank Open Data
Military spending	SIPRI Military Expenditure Database
Force structure, equipment	IISS Military Balance
Nuclear arsenals	FAS Nuclear Notebook
Resource deposits	USGS, EIA, national geological surveys
Political leadership	CIA World Factbook, government sources
News context	BBC, Reuters

Confidence Tiers

Not all data carries equal certainty. We use a tiered confidence system:

• High: Multiple authoritative sources agree
• Medium: Single authoritative source, well-documented
• Estimated: Derived from related data with documented methodology
• Low: Single non-authoritative source, flagged for review

Source Transparency

Every data point in GeopoliticsSim includes a source URL. You can always trace a figure back to its original publication. We do not assert facts without attribution.

Data Coverage

• 48 countries with comprehensive multi-dimensional data (economics, military, nuclear, leadership, resources)
• 73+ resource deposits with precise coordinates, production data, and reserve estimates
• 9 nuclear-armed states with detailed arsenal data

Limitations

Our data represents a snapshot of publicly available information from open sources. Classified information, real-time intelligence, and proprietary datasets are not included. The simulation is grounded in what is publicly knowable and verifiable.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to commonly asked questions about our platform

• What are your primary data sources?

  World Bank (economics), SIPRI (military spending), IISS Military Balance (force structure), FAS Nuclear Notebook (nuclear arsenals), USGS/EIA (resource deposits), and CIA World Factbook (leadership).

• How often is data updated?

  The seed data is updated continuously as new authoritative data becomes available. Each update goes through a quality review process.

• How do you handle uncertainty in data?

  Every data point carries a confidence tier (high, medium, estimated, low) based on source quality and corroboration. Users can see confidence levels in the data.

• Can I see the sources for specific data points?

  Yes. Every data point includes a source URL linking to the authoritative publication it was drawn from.