Study Suggests Rural Populations Have Been Vastly Undercounted in Global Data

New research indicates rural populations may have been underestimated by up to 84% between 1975 and 2010, raising questions about resource allocation and census accuracy.

The study, published in Nature Communications, analyzed data from 300 rural dam resettlement projects across 35 countries to identify discrepancies in global population datasets.
Researchers found rural populations may have been undercounted by 53% to 84% during the period studied, with earlier datasets showing the greatest inaccuracies.
The findings suggest systemic underrepresentation of rural communities in global data, potentially impacting resource allocation and policymaking for healthcare, infrastructure, and services.
The study highlights challenges in counting rural populations, including remote locations, census limitations, and difficulties accessing conflict-affected areas.
Experts remain divided, with some questioning the plausibility of such large-scale inaccuracies, while researchers call for improved census methods and alternative data collection approaches.