open data

Photo of Andy Tatem presenting at the UNICEF Ahead of the Storm conference October, 2026

Ahead of the Storm: How Data is Shielding Children from Climate Disasters 

WorldPop News /

Last week, I travelled to Geneva for UNICEF’s Ahead of the Storm workshop, a gathering of scientists, policymakers, and tech innovators united by a clear mission: using high-quality data and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to protect children from climate emergencies. As climate change and phenomena like El Niño intensify, the window between a […]

Ahead of the Storm: How Data is Shielding Children from Climate Disasters  Read More »

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WorldPop recognised in Invest in Open Infrastructure’s Infra Finder

WorldPop News /

WorldPop has been included in Infra Finder, a global resource developed by Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI) to help researchers, funders and organisations discover trusted open infrastructure services. The listing places WorldPop among a cohort of 47 data-focused resources highlighted through a collaboration between IOI and Wellcome. Infra Finder was created to improve the visibility,

WorldPop recognised in Invest in Open Infrastructure’s Infra Finder Read More »

Photo of someone sleeping under mosquito net.

How human expertise and AI can support vector-borne disease control

WorldPop News /

As climate change, urban growth and human movement reshape the world around us, the diseases carried by mosquitoes are changing too. Malaria, dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses are appearing in new places, putting more communities at risk than ever before. A new Perspective paper in Environmental Change and Disease Dynamics and co-authored by WorldPop visitor

How human expertise and AI can support vector-borne disease control Read More »

Photo of Dr Jessica Espey with Emily Cole at the QRMG Annual Lecture, 2026.

From local knowledge to global decisions: advancing inclusive data science

WorldPop News /

How do we make sure data reflects the people and places it is meant to represent? And how can cities make better decisions in an increasingly complex world? These were some of the questions explored by Dr Jessica Espey, Deputy Director (Research) at WorldPop, during recent engagements at the Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference in

From local knowledge to global decisions: advancing inclusive data science Read More »

Graphic showing components of the bottom–up approach to small area population estimation.

New Ways to Count Populations When the Census Falls Short

WorldPop News /

Reliable population data is one of the foundations of effective decision-making. Governments use it to plan schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Humanitarian agencies rely on it to deliver aid. Health organisations need it to estimate how many vaccines, medicines and health workers are required in different communities. Yet for many countries, obtaining accurate and up-to-date population

New Ways to Count Populations When the Census Falls Short Read More »

Map showing satellite detected Mudflow/ rockflow extent as of 26–27 August 2026 in Rasuwa District, Bagmati Province, Nepal.

Open Data Aiding Relief Efforts in Nepal and Tibet

WorldPop News /

Following recent devastating mudflows in Nepal’s Rasuwa District, WorldPop’s open spatial demographic data has been critical in rapidly assessing the human impact of the disaster.   By combining satellite imagery of the 20 km² affected area with WorldPop’s open demographic datasets, the preliminary analysis published by UNOSAT on ReliefWeb estimated that approximately 2,000 people were exposed

Open Data Aiding Relief Efforts in Nepal and Tibet Read More »

Photo of a stilt village in Benin

Local evidence can improve global decision-making

WorldPop News /

Répondez à notre enquête de satisfaction et contribuez à façonner la suite An international research team led by WorldPop Deputy Director (Research), Dr Jessica Espey, argues that better global decision-making needs stronger local evidence from low- and middle-income countries.  The study, published this week in Evidence & Policy, looks at how evidence shapes policy in

Local evidence can improve global decision-making Read More »

Photo of four children in a small village in Senegal

The World Isn’t Aging Evenly. How National Averages Are Hiding the Story.

WorldPop News /

Répondez à notre enquête de satisfaction et contribuez à façonner la suite WorldPop Director Professor Andy Tatem argues that national averages can hide big differences between communities, making detailed local population data essential for ensuring schools, healthcare, housing, and other services are delivered where people need them most. Many news stories on global population trends

The World Isn’t Aging Evenly. How National Averages Are Hiding the Story. Read More »

Photo of Dr Sarchil Qader, Tuli Amutenya and Ian Coady at the 2026 Global Data Festival in Nairobi.

WorldPop Experts Pioneer the Future of Population Intelligence at 2026 Global Data Festival

WorldPop News /

Take Our Survey and Help Shape What Comes Next During the 2026 Global Data Festival in Nairobi, WorldPop researchers showcased how high-resolution geospatial mapping and artificial intelligence are transforming the way nations count and improve outcomes for their citizens. The event, which was held jointly with the Kenya Space Expo & Conference, brought together international

WorldPop Experts Pioneer the Future of Population Intelligence at 2026 Global Data Festival Read More »

Screen capture of graphic from ArcGIS Scene Viewer of Global Projected Count of Children Under Age 5 for 2030 derived from 1-km cell size WorldPop Global2.

WorldPop Global 2 Demographic Data Now in ArcGIS Living Atlas 

WorldPop News /

Take Our Survey and Help Shape What Comes Next Access to high-quality demographic data is often one of the biggest barriers to evidence-based decision-making. Whether supporting health service planning, humanitarian response, infrastructure investment, or climate adaptation, organisations need population data that is both current and spatially detailed.  That is why we are pleased to see

WorldPop Global 2 Demographic Data Now in ArcGIS Living Atlas  Read More »

About Us

The WorldPop research programme, based in the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Southampton, is a multi-sectoral team of researchers, technicians and project specialists that produces data on population distributions and characteristics at high spatial resolution.

Initiated in October 2013 to combine The AfriPop Project, AsiaPop and AmeriPop projects, we have a diverse portfolio of projects, including large multi-million-pound collaborative projects with partner organisations, commercial data providers and international development organisations.

WorldPop develops and publishes open, high-resolution population datasets to support social, economic, and environmental development, humanitarian response, and the Sustainable Development Goals. This data is not intended, and should not be used, for purposes that discriminate against, exploit, surveil, or otherwise harm individuals or vulnerable populations; users are expected to apply it responsibly, assess the risks of their own analyses (particularly when combining it with other datasets) and are solely responsible for how they use it.

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  • University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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