Geospatial covariate data layers

WorldPop high resolution, harmonised annual global geospatial covariates. R2024 Version 1.0

Geospatial covariate data layers play an important role in the production of gridded population estimates where they are used as ancillary datasets to capture, inform and explain the variabilities in population densities and distributions at small area scales. WorldPop systematically collated this extensive geospatial collection of 73 annual, spatio-temporally harmonised datasets aimed at driving improvements in mapping small area population density variation. The gridded datasets address topography, climate, nighttime lights, land cover, inland water, infrastructure, protected areas as well as the built-up environment on a global level at a spatial resolution of 3 arc-seconds (approximately 100 metres). Datasets are available as annual time series from 2015 up to and including at least 2020, and as recent as 2023 where source datasets allow. Such datasets not only support population modelling but also applications across environmental, economic, and health sectors. Further details on the methods can be found in Woods D, McKeen T, Cunningham A et al. Global gridded multi-temporal datasets to support human population distribution modelling [version 1]. VeriXiv 2025, 2:149 (https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.1078.1)

Recommended data citation
D. Woods, T. McKeen, A. Cunningham, R. Priyatikanto, A. Sorichetta , A.J. Tatem and M. Bondarenko. 2024 "WorldPop high resolution, harmonised annual global geospatial covariates. Version 1.0." University of Southampton: Southampton, UK. DOI:10.5258/SOTON/WP00772

Older datasets produced for specific individual countries and continents are still available for download here: Global 1

Annual Mean Surface Temperature 2015-2023 Distance to Built-up Surface 2015-2030 Distance to inland water 2021 Distance to open-water coastline 2021 Annual Mean Precipitation 2015-2023 Built-up Surface 2015-2030 Built-up Volume 2015-2030 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2015 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2016 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2017 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2018 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2019 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2020 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2021 R2004V1 Distance to edges of reclassified ESA-CCI-LC classes 2022 R2004V1 Distance to IUCN strict nature reserve and wilderness area edges 2015-2022 R2024V1 Distance to OSM major road intersections 2023 Distance to OSM major roads 2023 Distance to OSM major waterways 2023 Distances to IUCN national park, national monument, etc.. 2015-2022 R2024V1 Gridded maps of building patterns - Google (BCB) Gridded maps of building patterns - Google (PIB) Gridded maps of building patterns - Microsoft (BCB) Gridded maps of building patterns - Microsoft (PIB) MERIT Elevation 2007 MERIT Slope 2007 Nighttime Lights 2015-2023 Nighttime Lights 2015-2023 (flares/volcanoes filtered)