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Population distribution, settlement patterns and accessibility across Africa in 2010
Catherine Linard1, Marius Gilbert, Robert W Snow
1Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|February 25, 2012
Summary
New high-resolution population data for Africa reveals 90% of people live on 21% of land. Average travel time to major centers is 3.5 hours, highlighting access inequities for rural populations.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Geospatial analysis
- Public health
Background:
- Accurate population distribution data is crucial for resource allocation and development.
- Existing African population data lacks resolution for detailed rural analysis.
- Understanding settlement patterns is key for accessibility studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-resolution population distribution dataset for Africa.
- To analyze rural accessibility to population centers across the continent.
- To identify inequities in access to services and resources.
Main Methods:
- Combined contemporary population counts with satellite-derived settlement extents.
- Mapped population distributions at an unprecedented spatial resolution.
- Analyzed travel times to major population centers.
Main Results:
- 90% of Africa's population is concentrated in less than 21% of the land surface.
- Average travel time to settlements >50,000 inhabitants is approximately 3.5 hours.
- Central and East Africa show the longest average travel times, indicating significant isolation.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution data reveals significant population concentration and spatial inequalities in Africa.
- Many rural populations face isolation, posing challenges for service delivery.
- Freely available AfriPop datasets provide evidence for strategic decision-making.
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