摘要：Abstract. Population data represent an essential component instudies focusing on human–nature interrelationships, disaster riskassessment and environmental health. Several recent efforts have producedglobal- and continental-extent gridded population data which are becomingincreasingly popular among various research communities. However, these dataproducts, which are of very different characteristics and based on differentmodeling assumptions, have never been systematically reviewed and compared,which may impede their appropriate use. This article fills this gap andpresents, compares and discusses a set of large-scale (global andcontinental) gridded datasets representing population counts or densities.It focuses on data properties, methodological approaches and relativequality aspects that are important to fully understand the characteristicsof the data with regard to the intended uses. Written by the data producersand members of the user community, through the lens of the “fitness foruse” concept, the aim of this paper is to provide potential data users withthe knowledge base needed to make informed decisions about theappropriateness of the data products available in relation to the targetapplication and for critical analysis.
