This study examines data on the worldwide use of the shadow library website Sci-Hub. It focuses particularly on the discipline of development studies, taking a critical look at current practices in scientific publishing and their implications for scientific conduct in this field. In the context of discussions about open science, the data demonstrate that Sci-Hub represents an existing network of open access literature. The study first describes the extent and geographic distribution of download requests from Sci-Hub and then identifies the underlying socio-economic drivers (i.e. GDP and population). The authors find that Sci-Hub is used the most by researchers from the global South, primarily from middle-income countries, whereas researchers from the poorest countries in the data set use Sci-Hub the least. This approach allows some conclusions to be drawn about factors that have an effect on a functioning open access network.1. This is a reference to Sci-Hub, which uses as its logo a picture of a crow holding a key. For a copy of the image, see: www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/08/08/letterpublishers-group-adds-debate-over-sci-hub-and-librarians-who-study-it (accessed 18 December 2020).