Choosing a data vintage (and keeping comparisons fair) Nothing torpedoes a territory comparison faster than mixing data years.
Population Explorer provides annually updated, global gridded population datasets. This quick guide helps you pick - and stick to - the right vintage so your datasets are defensible across markets.
What “vintage” means
The population data year you set in Layers → Settings.
Guidance
Keep one vintage across all territories you compare
Use LandScan for 2016–2023 comparability; WorldPop for 2024+ recency and placement detail
Always state vintage + source in deliverables
Use cases
Territory management — franchise, sales, service; sizing, balancing, and fairness checks.
Retail & site selection — store/clinic shortlists, cannibalization risk, white-space discovery.
Public services & health — coverage planning for schools, vaccination sites, and outreach.
Infrastructure & utilities — demand estimation for telecom, broadband, water, and transport.
Emergency & humanitarian — population-at-risk screening, logistics staging, and access.
Policy & research — comparable geographies when admin boundaries differ or change.
Need More Help?
If you run into issues, please contact us.
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