Using WorldPop Population Data to Strengthen Reproductive, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent (RMNCAH) Planning and Outcomes
Gridded Population Estimates
Gridded population estimates offer flexible, high-resolution data that can be aggregated into any spatial unit, supporting analyses beyond administrative boundaries, such as hospital catchments. They complement (but do not replace) full censuses, which provide detailed demographic and socioeconomic information. WorldPop produces multiple gridded datasets suited to different needs. Top-down datasets redistribute official census or projection counts into fine grids, giving consistent annual estimates but relying on potentially outdated census data. Bottom-up datasets use recent surveys and geospatial data to model populations where census information is limited, offering greater accuracy and uncertainty measures. Rapid-mapping tools allow users to create custom population grids.
Here are more details about how the population estimates are produced and how to choose datasets for a specific purpose, global, regional, or country.
There is information here about Top-down and Bottom-up population models.
Once you’ve decided on what you want, you can download your desired population count or age sex population. The age-sex population structures can be disaggregated to derive policy relevant groups such as children under one, children under five, adolescents, females of reproductive age (15 - 49 years) or any combination of age-groups.
Creating Custom Population Layers with Tools and Plugins
There are tutorials and learning resources on how to produce your bespoke population estimates and how to use them. The resources and tutorials use our tools such as:
QGIS pypopRF plugin for creating population estimates in QGIS.
An R package popRF for producing high-resolution population estimates using random forest models.
peanutButter (R package and web application) for extracting, summarising, and aggregating gridded population data, including a user-friendly, no-code interface for generating custom population estimates.
Free: All WorldPop datasets are open access, free, no registration required;
Flexible: Custom small-area estimates can be generated for any country or region;
Easy: No coding required if using the peanutButter web app or QGIS pypopRF plugin;
Ready to use: Outputs can be analysed in any GIS software or RMNCAH planning tool.
Why do these matter for RMNCAH?
All population data are available at the grid/pixel level and can be aggregated to any administrative level, census enumeration area, catchment area or any preferred boundaries.
This flexibility allows RMNCAH programs to identify underserved areas, calculate accurate population counts, estimate coverage and plan interventions at the level where decisions should be made. These analyses include:
Enhanced Accessibility and equity analysis
Wigley, A.S., Tejedor-Garavito, N., Alegana, V. et al. Measuring the availability and geographical accessibility of maternal health services across sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Med 18, 237 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01707-6
Utazi, C. E., Chan, H. M. T., Olowe, I., Wigley, A., Tejedor-Garavito, N., Cunningham, A., Bondarenko, M., Lorin, J., Boyda, D., Hogan, D., & Tatem, A. J. (2023). A zero-dose vulnerability index for equity assessment and spatial prioritization in low- and middle-income countries. Spatial Statistics, 57, 100772. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2023.100772
Aheto, J. M. K., Olowe, I. D., Chan, H. M. T., Ekeh, A., Dieng, B., Fafunmi, B., Setayesh, H., Atuhaire, B., Crawford, J., Tatem, A. J., & Utazi, C. E. (2023). Geospatial Analyses of Recent Household Surveys to Assess Changes in the Distribution of Zero-Dose Children and Their Associated Factors before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. Vaccines, 11(12), 1830. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11121830
Identifying underserved and high-need populations such as zero-dose or under-vaccinated children
Wigley A, Lorin J, Hogan D, Utazi CE, Hagedorn B, et al. (2022) Estimates of the number and distribution of zero-dose and under-immunised children across remote-rural, urban, and conflict-affected settings in low and middle-income countries. PLOS Global Public Health 2(10): e0001126. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001126
Utazi CE, Olowe ID, Chan HMT, Dotse-Gborgbortsi W, Wagai J, Umar JA, Etamesor S, Atuhaire B, Fafunmi B, Crawford J, et al. Geospatial Variation in Vaccination Coverage and Zero-Dose Prevalence at the District, Ward and Health Facility Levels Before and After a Measles Vaccination Campaign in Nigeria. Vaccines. 2024; 12(12):1299. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121299
Improved health service delivery across catchment areas
Dotse-Gborgbortsi, W., Nilsen, K., Yankey, O., Ofosu, A., Ankomah, T., Tweneboah, E., … Wright, J. (2025). Spatio-temporal patterns of health service delivery and access to maternal, child, and outpatient healthcare in Volta region, Ghana: a repeated cross-sectional ecological study using health facility data. Global Health Action, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2513861
Dotse-Gborgbortsi, W., Tatem, A. J., Matthews, Z., Alegana, V., Ofosu, A., & Wright, J. (2022). Delineating natural catchment health districts with routinely collected health data from women’s travel to give birth in Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 772. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08125-9
WorldPop population data in RMNCAH policy making in global and regional reports
2021 The State of the World’s Midwifery. Available here
2019 The State of the Pacific’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Workforce. Available here.
2025 World Malaria Report. Available here.
Policy uses across regions and countries
When countries leverage high-resolution population, such as WorldPop data, RMNCAH policies can be made more precise, equitable, and effective, enabling better targeting of resources, improved planning, and more informed decision-making.
The Countdown to 2030 project is funded by Gates Foundation Grant Number INV-042414, “Phase III of Countdown to 2030.” All icons used from https://www.flaticon.com