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Using WorldPop Population Data to Strengthen Reproductive, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent (RMNCAH) Planning and Outcomes

Author

Southampton DAC Countdown Team

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official census or projection counts into fine grids, giving consistent annual estimates but relying on potentially outdated census data.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.

Did you know?

  • 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