Population Radius Estimator - Calculate Population Inside a Circle
Estimate the number of people living within a specific radius anywhere on Earth. Draw a circle on the map to get instant population data using WorldPop analytics.
What is the Population Radius Estimator?
The Population Radius Estimator is a specialized geospatial tool designed to calculate the approximate number of people living within a user-defined circle. By selecting a center point and a radius (in km or miles), the tool queries high-resolution demographic data to provide a population count and density estimate. This is essential for market research, urban planning, disaster response zones, and academic geography.
How to Use This Tool
- Search for a location or click the 'Locate Me' button to find your starting point.
- Adjust the radius slider or type a specific distance (e.g., 5km).
- Click 'Calculate Population' to retrieve the data.
- View the total population estimate, population density, and land area in the results panel.
- Share the specific map view and data using the share button.
Data Source & Methodology
Where does this data come from?
This tool estimates population using the WorldPop dataset (University of Southampton).
How is it calculated?
Instead of a simple headcount, WorldPop uses a "Top-Down" statistical model. They take official census data and combine it with satellite imagery—including nighttime lights, road networks, and land cover—to predict where people are likely to live.
Note on Accuracy
- Date: The data represents the global population distribution for the year 2020.
- Method: The system divides the world into 100x100 meter squares and assigns a "probability" of population to each square. This is why you might sometimes see estimates for areas that appear empty (e.g., dense forests)—the model assigns a small statistical probability of human presence to almost all land.
Data Source Details
WorldPop (School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton).
Dataset Used:WorldPop Global Project Population (wpgppop), Unconstrained Top-Down estimate.
Methodology:The data is generated using "Random Forest-based dasymetric redistribution." This machine-learning approach disaggregates administrative census counts into ~100m grid cells based on geospatial covariates.
Key Features
- Global Coverage: Estimates population for locations worldwide.
- Flexible Radius: Calculate for small neighborhoods (500m) or large regions (100km).
- Dual Units: Switch seamlessly between Metric (km/sq km) and Imperial (miles/sq mi) units.
- Shareable Results: Generate unique links to share your specific analysis.