ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

          
                   

 Marine and Coastal Areas  
last update: August 2009
 
Proportion of Population in Coastal Zones (LECZ)
                 

                   
 
1990 urban
1990 rural
1990 total
1995 urban
1995 rural
1995 total
2000 urban
2000 rural
2000 total
                 
 
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Afghanistan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Albania
11.11
8.13
9.10
10.48
9.29
9.74
10.27
10.05
10.14
Algeria
5.85
1.55
3.74
5.85
1.55
3.91
5.87
1.56
3.96
American Samoa
5.85
37.60
10.33
5.74
37.47
9.78
5.64
39.05
9.66
Andorra1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Angola
13.94
2.14
4.73
14.15
2.34
5.08
14.26
2.45
5.28
Anguilla
50.43
80.70
54.22
50.43
77.42
53.37
50.43
77.42
53.37
Antigua and Barbuda
24.79
80.71
31.26
24.79
80.71
31.26
24.79
80.49
31.14
Argentina
13.01
5.38
11.65
12.60
5.16
11.27
12.11
5.26
10.93
Armenia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Aruba
30.44
64.92
33.21
30.44
64.93
33.21
30.44
64.92
33.21
Australia
12.38
8.88
11.90
12.63
9.29
12.18
12.51
9.38
12.11
Austria1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Azerbaijan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Bahamas
86.57
92.60
88.05
86.76
92.44
88.08
86.66
91.81
87.63
Bahrain
80.14
99.72
81.63
78.05
99.71
79.64
75.72
99.70
77.42
Bangladesh
50.59
44.73
45.96
50.53
44.49
45.81
50.27
44.20
45.56
Barbados
2.70
85.83
4.34
2.70
85.83
4.34
2.70
85.83
4.34
Belarus1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Belgium
24.54
10.68
23.46
24.24
10.26
23.14
24.10
10.17
22.95
Belize
64.20
26.35
40.16
64.20
25.04
40.20
64.20
23.65
40.33
Benin
40.81
8.10
20.77
41.46
8.17
20.82
43.72
8.31
20.95
Bermuda
70.27
74.09
71.17
70.27
74.09
71.17
70.27
74.09
71.17
Bhutan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Bolivia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.00
0.03
0.02
0.00
0.03
0.02
0.00
0.03
0.02
Botswana1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Brazil
8.26
2.53
6.54
8.17
2.63
6.63
8.15
2.74
6.67
British Virgin Islands
42.06
81.23
62.46
42.06
80.24
60.29
42.06
79.13
58.24
Brunei Darussalam
11.40
5.37
9.34
11.23
5.79
9.47
11.23
5.79
9.47
Bulgaria
2.43
0.36
1.46
2.44
0.38
1.49
2.45
0.39
1.53
Burkina Faso1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Burundi1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Cambodia
15.65
28.07
26.55
15.26
26.67
25.15
15.00
25.36
23.87
Cameroon
5.98
0.76
2.64
5.96
0.75
2.77
6.00
0.75
2.89
Canada
4.09
5.06
4.23
4.19
4.90
4.30
4.17
4.78
4.26
Cape Verde
11.22
12.38
11.93
11.80
12.56
12.25
12.42
12.89
12.68
Cayman Islands
97.85
87.40
96.19
97.85
88.14
96.34
97.85
88.89
96.49
Central African Republic1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Chad1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Chile
2.35
2.02
2.27
2.33
2.04
2.26
2.25
2.09
2.21
China
16.66
7.86
10.46
17.50
7.85
10.85
18.47
7.82
11.40
China, Macao SAR
48.71
88.28
56.06
48.71
88.28
56.06
48.71
92.24
59.41
Colombia
3.86
2.93
3.57
3.84
2.85
3.55
3.82
2.79
3.53
Comoros2
22.27
11.36
13.75
22.40
11.48
14.02
22.53
11.60
14.29
Congo
3.64
1.15
2.81
3.65
1.15
2.88
3.66
1.15
2.95
Cook Islands
41.33
48.86
45.25
41.33
49.20
45.39
41.25
43.48
42.38
Costa Rica
1.44
3.35
2.23
1.58
3.32
2.30
1.66
3.32
2.36
Croatia
3.88
2.63
3.01
3.86
2.64
3.01
3.85
2.64
3.01
Cuba
13.18
15.41
13.80
12.91
15.21
13.52
12.87
14.67
13.34
Cyprus2
8.12
8.44
8.16
8.08
8.79
8.17
8.09
8.69
8.17
Czech Republic1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Dem. Rep. of the Congo
0.08
0.02
0.03
0.08
0.02
0.03
0.07
0.03
0.04
Denmark
26.86
28.21
27.19
26.77
28.16
27.12
26.75
27.93
27.05
Djibouti
51.49
7.28
39.77
51.86
7.66
40.57
51.90
8.21
40.58
Dominica
4.49
8.17
6.39
4.50
8.62
6.56
4.50
9.13
6.73
Dominican Republic
2.39
4.52
3.27
2.41
4.56
3.24
2.45
4.72
3.25
Ecuador
16.02
10.12
13.58
16.25
10.22
13.82
16.46
10.28
14.02
Egypt
24.22
71.77
38.09
24.03
71.75
38.14
23.88
71.72
38.19
El Salvador
0.49
4.99
2.70
0.49
5.02
2.66
0.50
5.08
2.62
Equatorial Guinea
28.70
4.69
9.24
28.79
4.75
9.27
28.63
3.60
6.38
Eritrea
3.03
1.43
1.67
3.07
1.43
1.67
2.75
1.46
1.67
Estonia
12.83
8.51
11.57
12.90
8.49
11.60
12.96
8.46
11.62
Ethiopia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Faeroe Islands
10.25
12.59
11.97
10.25
12.80
12.10
10.25
12.87
12.12
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)2
...
28.50
28.50
...
29.90
29.90
...
28.93
28.93
Fiji
22.99
11.31
16.68
23.28
11.62
16.98
23.92
11.99
17.56
Finland
4.64
3.96
4.40
4.42
4.07
4.30
4.34
4.12
4.27
France
5.15
3.72
4.73
5.13
3.76
4.73
5.09
3.80
4.72
French Guiana
28.55
9.59
21.15
26.38
9.04
19.26
25.33
8.98
18.84
French Polynesia
12.91
21.39
18.84
12.91
21.97
19.23
12.91
21.37
18.80
Gabon
8.60
20.44
13.30
8.44
23.13
14.01
8.34
23.77
14.05
Gambia
52.49
26.92
38.55
50.23
26.74
38.21
47.14
26.63
37.55
Georgia
7.49
3.83
5.91
7.41
3.97
5.98
7.54
4.43
6.24
Germany
5.75
4.67
5.52
5.79
4.64
5.54
5.75
5.17
5.62
Ghana
6.12
2.19
3.64
6.02
2.16
3.66
5.93
2.15
3.68
Gibraltar
49.41
79.61
55.37
49.41
79.61
55.37
49.41
79.61
55.37
Greece
8.65
9.78
8.93
8.46
9.91
8.81
8.21
10.04
8.64
Greenland
67.05
50.60
55.77
67.34
50.02
55.61
67.84
49.80
55.84
Grenada
4.30
9.76
6.43
4.30
9.67
6.43
4.30
9.68
6.43
Guadeloupe
20.67
27.77
22.37
20.41
26.65
21.91
20.19
31.81
22.37
Guam
7.02
64.22
8.67
7.02
64.30
8.67
7.02
64.42
8.66
Guatemala
0.56
2.01
1.47
0.57
1.94
1.42
0.55
1.87
1.37
Guinea
29.66
3.65
9.51
29.81
2.93
8.64
29.05
2.62
7.95
Guinea-Bissau
30.53
24.20
26.07
30.58
24.16
26.10
30.60
24.15
26.11
Guyana
91.69
35.13
52.36
92.13
34.57
53.42
92.56
33.86
54.63
Haiti
18.80
5.55
9.18
18.63
13.02
14.60
15.38
6.01
9.19
Honduras
5.51
4.44
4.86
5.47
4.37
4.83
5.40
4.02
4.62
Hungary1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Iceland
12.79
26.74
17.12
12.72
27.82
17.05
12.50
29.85
17.16
India
11.01
4.66
6.51
10.73
4.57
6.39
10.46
4.48
6.27
Indonesia
28.55
14.27
19.78
28.23
14.36
19.70
27.92
14.45
19.62
Iraq
10.53
14.25
11.77
10.39
13.91
11.55
10.49
13.94
11.60
Ireland
12.12
7.35
10.26
12.14
7.24
10.24
12.11
7.12
10.21
Isle of Man
8.41
16.81
11.30
8.27
16.38
11.10
7.95
16.63
10.87
Israel
6.64
2.54
5.94
6.12
2.93
5.66
6.03
2.30
5.38
Italy
9.45
9.14
9.37
9.43
9.05
9.33
9.37
9.03
9.28
Jamaica
9.21
6.02
7.68
9.21
6.12
7.77
9.21
6.24
7.88
Japan
25.95
10.37
24.12
25.81
10.54
24.09
25.67
10.78
24.08
Jordan
0.02
0.04
0.02
0.02
0.05
0.03
0.02
0.05
0.03
Kazakhstan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Kenya
0.97
0.88
0.89
0.95
0.89
0.90
0.93
0.91
0.91
Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
15.11
8.33
10.00
15.25
8.37
10.10
15.53
8.37
10.22
Korea, Republic of
5.26
10.11
6.36
5.24
10.08
6.22
5.30
10.08
6.16
Kuwait
9.87
99.33
22.76
9.94
99.37
23.45
9.99
99.40
24.16
Kyrgyzstan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Lao People's Dem. Rep.1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Latvia
45.38
14.48
34.89
44.78
14.77
34.36
44.04
14.38
33.65
Lebanon
14.13
11.07
13.63
14.13
11.47
13.71
14.13
11.62
13.75
Lesotho1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Liberia
63.46
6.54
14.99
64.22
6.52
14.98
59.77
6.64
15.08
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
17.03
5.56
14.81
17.03
5.56
15.07
17.24
5.93
15.56
Liechtenstein1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Lithuania
6.26
2.60
4.98
6.29
2.62
5.02
6.31
2.63
5.06
Luxembourg1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Madagascar
10.82
4.30
5.46
10.82
4.30
5.56
10.73
4.27
5.52
Malawi1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Malaysia
29.02
18.13
24.49
27.78
18.39
24.09
26.51
18.45
23.51
Maldives
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
Mali1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Malta
11.07
62.99
14.81
10.57
61.58
13.21
10.40
61.35
12.94
Marshall Islands
100.00
99.67
99.77
100.00
99.68
99.78
100.00
99.68
99.78
Martinique
6.71
22.37
7.82
6.71
22.28
7.82
6.71
21.04
7.83
Mauritania2
49.46
23.98
27.83
47.57
25.37
29.00
45.61
25.79
29.25
Mauritius
8.96
12.88
9.42
8.97
12.77
9.41
8.98
12.71
9.41
Mexico
5.39
5.98
5.61
5.44
6.00
5.65
5.36
6.20
5.66
Micronesia, Federated States of
21.79
33.17
31.87
22.80
32.51
31.24
22.36
32.49
31.23
Monaco
77.94
36.43
72.70
77.94
36.43
72.70
77.94
36.43
72.70
Mongolia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Montserrat2
...
7.37
7.37
...
7.21
7.21
...
7.69
7.69
Mozambique
23.93
8.92
11.86
22.60
8.71
11.88
21.99
8.41
11.79
Myanmar
36.32
22.26
25.86
36.34
22.14
25.81
36.23
22.09
25.78
Namibia
6.42
0.48
2.06
6.72
0.53
2.32
7.05
0.58
2.59
Nauru
35.58
78.81
41.98
35.58
78.81
41.98
35.58
78.81
41.98
Nepal1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Netherlands
76.03
63.64
73.97
75.54
64.07
73.77
75.73
64.07
73.90
Netherlands Antilles
6.29
44.71
15.77
6.29
44.46
17.34
6.29
44.29
16.54
New Caledonia
38.47
18.96
28.02
35.55
20.67
28.38
33.14
22.47
28.59
New Zealand
15.45
11.66
14.66
15.38
11.84
14.65
15.41
11.89
14.69
Nicaragua
0.84
3.58
2.16
0.82
3.67
2.22
1.01
3.38
2.09
Niger1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Nigeria
12.56
3.56
6.09
12.01
3.61
6.08
11.63
3.64
6.08
Niue2
...
14.90
14.90
...
14.15
14.15
...
15.01
15.01
Northern Mariana Islands
46.68
48.75
47.09
46.69
49.11
47.16
46.68
49.06
47.15
Norway
7.36
11.20
8.63
7.36
11.37
8.63
7.37
11.52
8.63
Oman
22.99
3.44
15.90
22.48
4.60
17.59
22.69
5.04
18.26
Pakistan
4.91
2.03
2.94
4.78
2.05
2.95
4.63
2.07
2.94
Palau
64.80
35.12
52.29
64.80
35.70
53.01
64.80
33.18
51.50
Palestine
5.18
2.86
4.74
5.09
3.45
4.83
5.22
3.39
4.92
Panama
8.74
6.04
7.50
8.47
6.13
7.45
8.27
6.11
7.36
Papua New Guinea
6.05
2.01
2.59
6.16
2.01
2.62
6.48
2.06
2.74
Paraguay1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Peru
1.85
1.74
1.79
1.85
1.74
1.79
1.84
1.74
1.79
Philippines
30.25
12.65
18.26
29.19
12.78
18.14
27.37
12.93
17.70
Poland
3.17
1.63
2.53
3.17
1.67
2.54
3.18
1.64
2.53
Portugal
5.64
4.64
5.36
5.66
4.77
5.42
5.71
4.84
5.48
Puerto Rico
20.69
13.66
19.41
20.30
13.07
18.97
19.60
12.71
18.39
Qatar
34.65
42.45
35.63
33.16
42.32
34.19
32.18
42.29
33.10
Republic of Moldova1
2.46
1.80
2.10
2.86
1.38
2.04
2.65
1.60
2.04
Réunion
20.71
14.12
16.54
20.72
14.22
16.62
20.73
14.31
16.69
Romania
4.91
1.93
3.39
4.93
1.95
3.41
4.95
1.95
3.42
Russian Federation
2.49
2.34
2.45
2.47
2.38
2.44
2.48
2.37
2.44
Rwanda1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Saint Kitts and Nevis
13.47
47.37
17.09
13.47
47.35
17.08
13.47
47.35
17.08
Saint Lucia
3.98
4.76
4.26
3.98
4.77
4.26
3.92
5.03
4.28
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
60.24
60.60
60.31
60.24
60.64
60.32
60.24
60.70
60.33
Samoa
83.76
7.69
23.58
83.78
7.67
23.57
83.79
7.67
23.57
San Marino1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Sao Tome and Principe
35.54
11.72
22.97
35.54
12.65
24.49
35.54
13.81
26.04
Saudi Arabia
16.46
2.75
12.55
16.74
2.88
13.68
16.16
2.84
13.46
Senegal
52.55
15.22
29.46
53.55
15.23
31.24
53.06
15.13
31.48
Serbia and Montenegro
0.11
0.06
0.08
0.11
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.06
0.08
Seychelles
12.89
27.49
17.42
12.89
27.49
17.42
12.89
27.49
17.43
Sierra Leone
12.62
8.17
9.35
12.64
8.48
9.59
12.83
8.45
9.68
Singapore
14.02
54.52
14.99
14.02
54.52
14.99
14.02
54.52
14.99
Slovakia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Slovenia
2.02
0.56
1.47
2.03
0.55
1.48
2.05
0.54
1.49
Solomon Islands
48.64
13.20
18.25
48.65
13.23
18.51
48.30
13.52
19.47
Somalia
13.55
2.75
3.59
13.77
3.28
4.16
14.55
3.95
4.98
South Africa
1.99
0.24
1.24
1.77
0.27
1.13
1.58
0.30
1.05
Spain
8.42
4.58
7.71
8.42
4.65
7.73
8.41
4.71
7.74
Sri Lanka
22.44
10.83
13.30
22.61
9.55
12.38
22.78
8.63
11.79
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 0.00 15.40 10.47 0.00 15.77 9.96 0.00 16.31 9.11
Sudan
0.36
0.51
0.48
0.37
0.57
0.52
0.39
0.62
0.55
Suriname
98.12
21.36
72.60
98.13
21.87
74.46
98.15
22.38
76.16
Swaziland1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Sweden
7.82
4.80
6.99
7.84
5.00
7.08
7.92
5.08
7.18
Switzerland1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Syrian Arab Republic
0.99
0.25
0.61
0.98
0.26
0.61
0.96
0.26
0.62
Taiwan
21.27
11.31
17.99
21.36
10.50
17.69
21.41
9.78
17.37
Tajikistan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Thailand
57.33
9.51
24.46
58.64
9.61
25.36
60.03
9.58
26.32
The Former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Timor-Leste
4.39
3.44
3.48
4.52
3.43
3.48
4.21
3.46
3.49
Togo
22.09
2.05
11.43
21.42
1.79
11.68
20.94
1.49
11.91
Tonga
47.00
39.12
43.15
47.00
38.76
43.04
47.00
38.45
42.95
Trinidad and Tobago
11.43
21.84
13.23
11.20
21.39
12.80
11.09
21.50
12.58
Tunisia
22.41
4.62
14.53
22.34
4.91
14.58
22.27
5.22
14.77
Turkey
4.36
2.22
3.50
4.37
2.33
3.60
4.31
2.47
3.67
Turkmenistan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Turks and Caicos Islands2
...
89.82
89.82
...
89.91
89.91
...
90.06
90.06
Tuvalu2
...
99.59
99.59
...
99.78
99.78
...
99.50
99.50
Uganda1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Ukraine
2.99
2.19
2.66
2.98
2.20
2.65
2.97
2.21
2.65
United Arab Emirates
24.61
5.54
20.86
24.65
5.72
21.45
25.06
5.60
21.64
United Kingdom
11.69
11.46
11.65
11.57
11.99
11.64
11.75
11.70
11.74
United Rep. of Tanzania
5.68
1.46
2.16
5.68
1.44
2.22
5.68
1.43
2.25
United States
8.95
4.60
8.11
8.92
4.61
8.09
8.89
4.69
8.07
United States Virgin Islands
23.59
67.32
29.15
23.41
68.62
29.44
23.28
69.51
29.65
Uruguay
11.38
7.12
10.64
11.32
7.15
10.61
11.24
7.20
10.58
Uzbekistan1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Vanuatu
0.00
5.63
4.63
0.00
5.67
4.58
0.00
5.70
4.53
Venezuela
6.64
7.18
6.72
6.65
7.62
6.78
6.71
7.25
6.79
Viet Nam
74.02
51.01
55.94
74.17
50.46
55.57
73.90
49.71
55.10
Wallis and Futuna Islands2
...
64.17
64.17
...
63.79
63.79
...
64.04
64.04
Yemen
7.29
0.84
2.36
7.19
0.84
2.37
7.16
0.84
2.37
Zambia1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Zimbabwe1
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
                   

 

Sources:

Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University. Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Estimates, 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/lecz. (2009).
Proportions calculated by UNSD Environment Statistics Section

Footnotes:

  1. Landlocked
  2. Flagged by source for possible errors; some of the countries/areas are represented as having no urban areas (settlements with a population of 5000 or larger). Other countries were flagged because of missing data or issues needing investigation.


Definitions & Technical notes:

The proportions of populations (urban, rural and total) in low elevation coastal zones (LECZ) are calculated for each country or area by UNSD using total and LECZ population figures available from CIESIN/SEDAC.

Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) is defined in this table as the contiguous area along the coast that is less than 10 metres above sea level.

Country-level estimates of urban, rural and total population and land area in a low elevation coastal zone (LECZ) were generated globally using Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP) alpha population and land area data products and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) derived from Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) remote sensing data.

The zone was derived from the DEM by selecting all land contiguous with the coast that was 10 metres or less in elevation. Zonal statistics were generated for urban, rural and total population and land area for the country as a whole and within the LECZ.

Grids for determining population and LECZ are at 1 km (30 arc-second) resolution. The SRTM dataset used came from ISciences; the GRUMP data were developed by CIESIN.

For more information on the methodology see:
McGranahan, G., D. Balk and B. Anderson. 2007. The rising tide: assessing the risks of climate change and human settlements in low elevation coastal zones. Environment & Urbanization 19(1): 17-37 (2007). International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). http://eau.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/1/17


Data Quality:

The spatial detail of census data varied greatly between countries and 1km resolution was considered the highest resolution that could be supported globally. The SRTM data utilized was at a resolution of 1km to facilitate a 1 to 1 spatial match with the population data. By degrading the resolution of the SRTM data to 1km, the estimates shown likely underestimate the population counts in the zone. The 10 metre elevation ceiling was chosen in part because of the SRTM data precision globally.

For more information visit: CIESIN/SEDAC (http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/gpw/lecz).

 


United Nations Statistics Division - Environment Statistics