LandScan Global Population Database provides population distribution data with key features as follows:

• population distribution data (30 arc seconds or ~1km at equator) in a GIS raster (ESRI Grid) format
• distribution depicts ambient (24 hr average) population distribution
• Sub-national census counts provided by the International Program Centre, Bureau of Census
• Upgraded and updated annually to reflect changes in global political boundaries

Imperial College London members can access data from 2011, 2014 - 2021. 

Web access

Non-GIS users can access the data at LandScan.

Server access

Access through the server connection hosted via Web Mapping Service (WMS) and Web Coverage Service (WCS) with any GIS software. We recommend using ArcGIS Desktop which is available via the ICT Software Shop. Note that downloading GIS software may not be allowed to some college networked PCs.

Once your GIS software has launched, connect with the following URL:

• WMS: http://wms.cartographic.com/GWS/services/LandScan2011/Dataset/MapServer/WMSServer
• WCS: http://wms.cartographic.com/GWS/services/LandScan2011/Dataset/MapServer/WCSServer

To access data from other years replace 2011 in the url. For example, to access 2014 data WMS is:

• http://wms.cartographic.com/GWS/services/LandScan2014/Dataset/MapServer/WMSServer

For queries regarding access methods for this database please ASK the Library.