Mapping global urban and rural population distributions
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This monograph is part of a series of reports that explain and illustrate methods for applying spatial analysis techniques to investigate poverty and environment links worldwide. Analysing population distribution in relation to poverty and environmental factors is increasingly recognized as a valuable element in decision-making processes related to development issues. Accurately mapping and assessing vulnerable populations can provide a solid basis for recommendations on how best to reduce pover ty and improve living conditions in developing countries. In this report, the various definitions of the terms 'urban' and 'rural' are reviewed, along with data from the United Nations and other sources, and various georeferenced sources are assessed for their usefulness to the geospatial analysis of population distribution. The report examines two widely used global georeferenced population datasets, reviews recent methodological developments for distinguishing urban and rural populations spati ally and presents a method for creating an urban mask and determining variations in the distribution of urban and rural populations, by pixel. The report concludes with a brief discussion of unresolved issues and future challenges. Finally, the Annex details a method for estimating global population distribution to the year 2015 using data from over 375 000 subnational units.