A Comprehensive Population Dataset for Afghanistan Constructed Using GIS-Based Dasymetric Mapping Methods

By Allyson L. Thompson and Bernard E. Hubbard

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5238

Abstract:

This report summarizes the application of dasymetric methods for mapping the distribution of population 
throughout Afghanistan. Because Afghanistan’s population has constantly changed through decades of war and 
conflict, existing vector and raster GIS datasets (such as point settlement densities and intensities of lights 
at night) do not adequately reflect the changes. The purposes of this report are (1) to provide historic 
population data at the provincial and district levels that can be used to chart population growth and migration 
trends within the country and (2) to provide baseline information that can be used for other types of spatial 
analyses of Afghanistan, such as resource and hazard assessments; infrastructure and capacity rebuilding; and 
assisting with international, regional, and local planning.  The provinces and district s of Afghanistan have 
been attributed with historical population data which are available for download as GIS shape file layers 
accompanying this report.

Disclaimer:

This electronic publication is prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States 
Government, nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes 
any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, 
product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. 
Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or 
otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the 
United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data within this publication are used by the 
USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and related materials. 
The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in 
the use of this data, software, or related materials. Population statistics were compiled and attributed based on 
data provided by the Afghanistan Central Statistics Organization (CSO) and current provincial and district boundaries 
as digitized by the Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS).  Users are urged to obtain the most up to 
date, current and accurate data from the above sources and (or) the relevant domestic and international organizations 
such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Afghanistan Information Management Service 
(AIMS), and the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.

Shapefiles provided:

district-population: This data set includes polygons delineating district boundaries of Afghanistan, attributed 
with CSO population statistics compiled for years 1990, 1998, 2000, and 2003, as well as dasymetric modeling 
results showing population distribution for year 2003.

province-population: This data set includes polygons delineating provincial boundaries of Afghanistan, attributed 
with CSO population statistics compiled for years 2003, 2006 and 2011, as well as dasymetric modeling results 
showing population distribution for year 2003.

metadata:  A separate metadata file in xml format, is provided for each shapefile.  ArcMap users will be able 
to access the metadata directly from the *.xml file associated with each shapefile.

These data can be downloaded from the USGS at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20135238.