Documentation

Papers | Metadata |  Citations | Known Errors | National Population Estimate Differences: GPWv3 and UN | Countries in GPWv3 Given a Growth Rate Cap | Data Usage Policy

This page provides links to papers describing GPW and GRUMP methodologies, metadata records, recommended citations for all products, a table of known errors associated with the construction of these products, and CIESIN's data usage policy. 

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Methodological documentation for the GPWv3, GPWfe, GRUMP data products are available in the following papers:

• Gridded Population of the World version 3 (GPW v3)
• GPW: Future Estimates
• Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), alpha version

For a more in-depth description of GPW methodologies, please see the GPWv2 working paper below:

• Transforming Population Data for Interdisciplinary Usages: From census to grid

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Gridded Population of the World, version 3 (GPWv3)

Gridded Population of the World: Future Estimates (GPWfe)

Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP) alpha

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We recommend the following for citing the GPWv3 and GRUMP data products:

Gridded Population of the World, version 3 (GPWv3)

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3). Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

 

Population Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Population Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Population Density Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Population Density Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Land Area Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Land Area Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Mean Geographic Unit Area Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Mean Geographic Unit Area Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Centroids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Centroids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

National Identifier Grid

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): National Identifier Grid. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

National Boundaries

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): National Boundaries. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Coastlines

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World Version 3 (GPWv3): Coastlines. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

 

Gridded Population of the World: Future Estimates

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; United Nations Food and Agriculture Programme (FAO); and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World: Future Estimates. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

 

Population Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; United Nations Food and Agriculture Programme (FAO); and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World: Future Estimates, 2015 (GPW2015): Population Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Population Density Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; United Nations Food and Agriculture Programme (FAO); and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2005. Gridded Population of the World: Future Estimates, 2015 (GPW2015): Population Density Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

 

Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project, alpha version (GRUMP alpha)

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Population Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Population Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Population Density Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Population Density Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Land Area Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Land Area Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Mean Geographic Unit Area Grids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Mean Geographic Unit Area Grids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Centroids

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Centroids. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

National Identifier Grid

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: National Identifier Grid. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download)

National Boundaries

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: National Boundaries. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Coastlines

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Coastlines. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Urban Extents

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Urban Extents. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

Settlement Points

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); The World Bank; and Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT). 2004. Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version: Settlement Points. Palisades, NY: Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw. (date of download).

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National Population Estimate Differences: GPWv3 and UN

GPWv3 relies on national statistical office estimates of population. Therefore, GPWv3 and UN national population estimates may differ because of disparate methodologies and source data.  The list below summarizes the countries for which the population difference was greater than 5% in 1990, 2000, and 2015:

1990  Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guinea, Holy See, Honduras, India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lebanon, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Venezuela

2000  American Samoa, Andorra, Armenia, Bangladesh, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Federated States of Micronesia, French Guiana, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mongolia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Paraguay, Russia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Venezuela

2015  American Samoa, Andorra, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Guiana, Georgia, Haiti, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Maldives, Morocco (includes Western Sahara), Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Niue, Oman, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe

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Countries in GPWv3 Given a Growth Rate Cap

When interpolating between population estimates from two data years, it is not uncommon to experience high growth rates for small administrative units—even when the vast majority of units in that country experience much lower rates of growth.  The list below summarizes the countries for which one or more administrative units experienced an unusually high growth rate (±5%). For these units we applied a growth rate cap of 5%.

Belgium, Botwana, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Italy, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Panama. Paraguay, Russia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia

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ACCESS CONSTRAINTS:

CIESIN offers unrestricted access and use of data without charge, unless specified in the documentation for particular data.  All other rights are reserved.

 

USE CONSTRAINTS:

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) hold the copyright of this dataset.

Users are prohibited from any commercial, non-free resale, or redistribution without explicit written permission from CIESIN or CIAT. Users should acknowledge CIESIN and CIAT as the source used in the creation of any reports, publications, new data sets, derived products, or services resulting from the use of this data set. CIESIN and CIAT also request reprints of any publications and notification of any redistributing efforts.

 

DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY

CIESIN follows procedures designed to ensure that data disseminated by CIESIN are of reasonable quality. If, despite these procedures, users encounter apparent errors or misstatements in the data, they should contact SEDAC User Services at +1 845-365-8920 or via email at ciesin.info@ciesin.columbia.edu. Neither CIESIN nor NASA verifies or guarantees the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any data provided. CIESIN provides this data without warranty of any kind whatsoever, either express or implied. CIESIN shall not be liable for incidental, consequential, or special damages arising out of the use of any data provided by CIESIN.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work, including access to the data and technical assistance, is provided by CIESIN, with funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Contract NAS5-03117 for the Continued Operation of the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).

 

CITATIONS

See above for the appropriate citations.

 

NOTE

The data contained in this archive are the production version of GPW v3, and should be used instead of the previous (alpha and beta) versions.

 

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