FAQ
Frequently asked questions
These are the most common questions about drawing custom areas, reading the estimate, and understanding where the data comes from.
How do I use the population map?
Open the map, tap or click the draw button, trace the area you care about, and release to close the shape. The site then estimates how many people live inside that boundary.
Is the result an exact population count?
No. The result is an estimate based on gridded population data. It is useful for custom shapes, but it is not the same thing as an official census total for a legal boundary.
What data source does the estimate use?
The site uses WorldPop population raster data. The visible map comes from OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, and OpenStreetMap contributors.
Can I draw across city or country boundaries?
Yes. The whole point of the tool is that you can draw your own custom area instead of relying on a predefined administrative region.
Why do very large areas use a different path?
Very large polygons can be expensive to process at the highest resolution, so the backend uses optimized lower-resolution paths for large queries to keep the app responsive.