Tim O'Riordan

Map showing Coverage of Google Open Buildings Temporal dataset in the global south.

High-Resolution Mapping Sheds Light on Rapid Urban Growth

Take Our Survey and Help Shape What Comes Next Rapid urban growth is reshaping cities across Africa, Latin America and Asia, but in many places, reliable and up-to-date data about how cities are expanding simply doesn’t exist. New research from WorldPop, led by Dr Rhorom Priyatikanto, aims to change that.  The team has developed a new dataset that tracks how […]

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Photo of u-haul trailer parked outside a rural cottage

Researchers reveal global patterns of ‘urban exodus’ 

Take Our Survey and Help Shape What Comes Next A new study by an international team led WorldPop postgraduate researcher Qianwen Duan has revealed a significant “urban exodus” across the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. By analysing high-resolution data from 35 countries, the research team found that while many people fled dense city centres for

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Graphic invitation to join AI-Enabled Data and Methods to Address Demographic Gaps for Children on the Move webinar

WorldPop/IDAC Webinar: Demographic Gaps for Children on the Move

WorldPop is partnering with the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) to host a webinar on February 19 exploring how AI can bridge critical demographic gaps for children on the move. This session highlights the necessity of accurate and contemporary data to ensure vulnerable populations are visible in humanitarian decision-making. Professor Andy

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Infographic titled "Experts refute "missing" population claim

Global Population Data Experts Refute Claims of Systematic Rural Underrepresentation

An international team of researchers, including experts from the WorldPop group at the University of Southampton, has challenged recent claims that gridded global population maps systematically undercount rural communities. In a comprehensive response to a study published in Nature Communications, the team argues that allegations of a 50% undercount are based on a flawed research design that

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Photo of a young woman checking her smartphone in a busy Philippines market.

Transforming Social Media Signals into Accurate Population Maps for Crisis Response

An international research team led by Dr Paolo Andrich, a visiting researcher at WorldPop based at the University of Oxford, has developed a novel statistical framework to turn anonymised, biased social media data into reliable population estimates. This approach provides a timely and contemporary alternative to traditional censuses, which are often static and struggle to

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Photo of the WorldPop senior team meeting with their counterparts at DHIS2, University of Oslo

Strengthening Data Systems Together: WorldPop Meets the DHIS2 Team in Oslo

Last week, the WorldPop senior team met with their counterparts at DHIS2 at their headquarters in the University of Oslo. The conversations marked an important moment to step back from day-to-day technical work and focus on the bigger picture: how population data and digital administrative systems can work together to support better public services worldwide. 

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AI generated image showing public health analysts, humanitarian responders, researchers, and urban planners using tablets, maps, and data dashboards, illustrating real-world impact. Caption reads "1,000,000+ open data downloads since 2019"

Celebrating a Milestone: 1 Million Downloads and Counting

We’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone in our mission to ensure that everyone, everywhere is counted in decision-making. Since 2019, our open spatial demographic datasets have reached over 1 million downloads from our own site – adding to the hundreds of thousands more from our data hosting partners including HDX, ESRI’s Living Atlas, and

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Photo of conference hall with delegates at a UNICEF–MICS–WorldPop Regional Workshop for the Arab States in Amman, Jordan

Advancing National Survey Data with Geospatial Innovation in the Arab States

Last week in Amman, experts from across the Arab States came together for a pioneering UNICEF–MICS/WorldPop workshop on using geospatial methods to build modern national sampling frames. Co-led by Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarchil Qader and GIS Technician Iyanuloluwa Olowe with UNICEF GIS consultant Nazim Gashi, the workshop brought together senior officials and technical staff

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