OpenSanctions: The open database of sanctions, PEPs and watchlists

# OpenSanctions > OpenSanctions is the most accessible and transparent way to build data-driven watchlist screening integrations. The dataset is an industry reference and contains rich data suitable for customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, supply chain analysis, and building complex knowledge graphs for fincrime analysis. The screening data includes most international sanctions lists, other government watchlists (most wanted, regulatory enforcements/indictments/warnings, procurement debarment) and a global dataset of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs). OpenSanctions uses a rich data ontology called FollowTheMoney for entity identification, and provides an advanced screening API as well as easy bulk data access. ## Basics * [Understanding entities](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/entities/) * [Flat and nested entity formats](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/nested-entities/) * [Data dictionary (all entity types/schema and their properties)](https://www.opensanctions.org/reference/) * [Entity risk classification](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/topics/) * [Sanctions programs (legal basis for designations)](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/programs/) * [Identifiers for entities and how they relate to de-duplication](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/identifiers/) * [Data sources in OpenSanctions](https://www.opensanctions.org/datasets/sources/); [JSON metadata](https://data.opensanctions.org/datasets/latest/index.json) * [Data coverage: what we do and don't cover (crypto, EU journal, adverse media)](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/coverage/) * [Metadata format](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/metadata/) * [Glossary](https://www.opensanctions.org/docs/glossary/) * [FollowTheMoney data ontology](https://followthemoney.tech/) * [Changelog of upcoming and historical changes](https://www.opensanctions.org/changelog/) * [Support forum (more questions & answers)](https://discuss.opensanctions.org/) * [Contact our support team](https://www.opens