Data Warehouse Knowledge Base
Data Warehouse Knowledge Base
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Population Indicator

The FEWS NET Data Warehouse (FDW) stores population estimates and census values in the Population Indicator data domain.

This page covers the process for uploading the custom country population estimates that are used for the population in need (PIN) estimates included in the Food Assistance Outlook Briefing (FAOB). Typically these numbers are revised once per year, but may be updated sooner as needed.

These population estimates are stored within the Surveys metadata as Internal population estimates for FEWS NET analysis with Annual schedule.

For more information on preparing FAOB data, see the guidance for Acutely Food Insecure Population Estimates.

Uploading FEWS NET population estimates

Template guidelines

The template contains all necessary metadata and columns, required for data upload.
Only the following columns, highlighted in yellow in the template, need to be filled in:

  • fnid: Two-letter ISO country code. The data is loaded on the country level, therefore only a country needs to be provided.

  • start_date: Start date of the period for which the population is estimated.

    • The period_date column uses a formula based on the start_date. Drag down the fill handle to create new rows.

  • value: Estimated number of people.

  • description: Optional field that allows to add information about how the population was estimated, e.g. “Landscan population adjusted by conflict and displacement data.”

Do not remove any columns or change column headers, as this will cause the upload to fail. The population_group and dominant_livelihood_zone columns need to present in the template but can remain empty.

Uploading and publishing population estimates

Follow the steps below to upload the completed template and publish the data:

  1. Navigate to https://fdw.fews.net/en/admin/survey/populationindicatorvalue/import/.

  2. Choose the upload file.

  3. Select the format xlsx.

  4. Click Submit button. This will create both Data Series (if necessary) and Data Points defined in the upload file.

  5. Navigate to https://fdw.fews.net/en/admin/warehouse/datacollection/?data_domain=PopulationIndicator.

  6. Use the checkboxes to select the Data Collection(s) from the table. They should have a Submitted status.

  7. Select the Publish option from the Action dropdown.

Choosing population estimates in FDE extracts

The population estimates that have been uploaded to FDW can be used as a calibration source for the Geographic Unit population extracts, ensuring that all of the units across the country will add up to the total population number. Prepare the extracts from the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE) using the following steps:

  1. From FDE, select the Explore data tab.

  2. Choose the Spatial topic page from the lefthand Topics sidebar.

  3. Filter for the required Geographic Unit Set Version.

  4. Scroll down to the Customize sidebar and open the Population data dropdown to select Include population estimates, including male/female breakdown, or Include demography estimates, including male/female breakdown.

  5. From the Population source dropdown, search for Population estimates for FEWS NET analysis.

  6. Optional: specify a year in the Population year field. The most recent data will be used by default.

  7. Update the file format as needed and click Download or copy the API link.

The output data will contain population estimates calibrated by the total population for the selected country. For additional information about using the Spatial topic page, see Customizing and Previewing Spatial Data.