High resolution global gridded data for use in population studies
Open accessAbstract
Recent years have seen substantial growth in openly available satellite and other geospatial data layers, which represent a range of metrics relevant to global human population mapping at fine spatial scales. The specifications of such data differ widely and therefore the harmonisation of data layers is a prerequisite to constructing detailed and contemporary spatial datasets which accurately describe population distributions. Such datasets are vital to measure impacts of population growth, monitor change, and plan interventions. To this end the WorldPop Project has produced an open access archive of 3 and 30 arc-second resolution gridded data. Four tiled raster datasets form the basis of the archive: (i) Viewfinder Panoramas topography clipped to Global ADMinistrative area (GADM) coastlines; (ii) a matching ISO 3166 country identification grid; (iii) country area; (iv) and slope layer. Further layers include transport networks, landcover, nightlights, precipitation, travel time to major cities, and waterways. Datasets and production methodology are here described. The archive can be downloaded both from the WorldPop Dataverse Repository and the WorldPop Project website.
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Population data from the WorldPop project are often used in spatial exposure analysis.
“Population data from the WorldPop project are also often used in spatial exposure analysis [8, 11].”
From GPU-Accelerated Deep Learning for Heatwave Prediction and Urban Heat Risk Assessment (2026) · cites this paper as [11]
The Background & Summary describes WorldPop population-distribution datasets, and Data Records says the datasets are publicly available. The paper does not say they are often used in spatial exposure analysis; searches for exposure and risk-mapping uses did not establish that part of the claim. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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GPU-Accelerated Deep Learning for Heatwave Prediction and Urban Heat Risk Assessment
Alihodžić, A. (2026) · arXiv · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.16435
“Population data from the WorldPop project are also often used in spatial exposure analysis [8, 11].”
- Authors
- Lloyd, C. T., Sorichetta, A., & Tatem, A. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Southampton (GB)
- Flowminder Foundation (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Lloyd, Christopher T.
- Venue
- Scientific Data
- Published
- 2017-01-31
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 170001-170001
- ISSN
- 2052-4463 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5283062
- OpenAlex
- W2580095392
- Cited by
- 392
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 39 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 6
- Type
- data paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scientific Data (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1106427, 1032350, OPP1134076, #1032350, OPP1106427, OPP1134076, OPP1094793)
- Wellcome Trust (106866/Z/15/Z, /Z/15/Z, 106866)
- National Institutes of Health (OPP1106427, OPP1134076, OPP1094793)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1032350, OPP1106427, U19AI089674)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Geographic Information Systems Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Keywords
- gridded population data, population distribution mapping, WorldPop, data harmonization, topography, slope, nighttime lights, land cover, transportation networks, waterways, precipitation, open geospatial data
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Population Dynamics, Databases, Factual, Datasets as Topic
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