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API Access
Access dataset files directly from scripts, code, or AI agents.
Each file has a stable URL (r-link) that you can use directly in scripts, apps, or AI agents. These URLs are permanent and safe to hardcode.
Start with these files — they give you everything you need to understand and access the dataset.
- 1. Fetch datapackage.json to inspect schema and resources
- 2. Download data resources listed in datapackage.json
- 3. Read README.md for full context
Data Views
World Population: 10,000 BCE to 2023
Global Agricultural Land Use: 10,000 BCE to 2023
Data Files
Explore with AIpopulation
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| year | integer | Year of observation. Negative values are BCE (e.g. -10000 = 10,000 BCE). Spacing is millennial before 1 CE, then decadal to 1700, then annual to 2023. |
| population | integer | Total world population (persons) |
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Download CSVAbout
- Global human population from 10,000 BCE to 2023 CE. Values are total world population in persons, derived by summing HYDE 3.3 regional baseline estimates. Negative years denote BCE.
- Last updated
- 16 March 2026
- Total rows
- ...
- Format
- CSV
- File size
- 2.11 kB
land-use
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| year | integer | Year of observation. Negative values are BCE. |
| indicator | string | Land use type: 'cropland' (all cultivated area) or 'pasture' (managed grazing land) |
| area_km2 | number | Total global area in km² |
Download
Download CSVAbout
- Global agricultural land use from 10,000 BCE to 2023 CE. Covers cropland (all cultivated area) and pasture (managed grazing land). Areas in km².
- Last updated
- 16 March 2026
- Total rows
- ...
- Format
- CSV
- File size
- 6.42 kB
About this dataset
HYDE: History Database of the Global Environment
12,000 years of global population and agricultural land use. Developed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) and Utrecht University.
Overview
HYDE 3.3 provides estimates of world population and land use from 10,000 BCE to 2023 CE — the entire span of human civilization. The database is built from archaeological, historical, and census sources and is widely used in climate modelling, sustainability research, and global change studies.
Data
| File | Description | Rows |
|---|---|---|
data/population.csv | Global population by year | 126 |
data/land-use.csv | Cropland and pasture by year | 252 |
Population
Global total world population in persons. Highlights:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 10,000 BCE | ~4.5 million |
| Year 0 (1 CE) | ~232 million |
| 1750 | ~753 million |
| 1950 | ~2.5 billion |
| 2023 | ~7.9 billion |
Land Use
Global agricultural area in km², covering two categories:
- Cropland — all cultivated land (arable + permanent crops)
- Pasture — managed grazing land (excludes natural rangeland)
| Year | Cropland (km²) | Pasture (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 BCE | 0 | 0 |
| Year 0 | ~1,496,000 | ~170,000 |
| 1750 | ~4,640,000 | ~3,200,000 |
| 2023 | ~16,267,000 | ~7,434,000 |
Source Data
Raw source files (space-separated regional tables from HYDE 3.3 baseline scenario):
| File | Description |
|---|---|
popc_r.txt | Regional population counts (persons) |
cropland_r.txt | Regional cropland area (km²) |
pasture_r.txt | Regional pasture area (km²) |
Run python3 process.py to regenerate the CSVs from these source files.
Source
Klein Goldewijk, K., Beusen, A., Doelman, J. & Stehfest, E. (2017, updated 2024). Anthropogenic land use estimates for the Holocene — HYDE 3.3. Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) / Utrecht University. DOI: 10.24416/UU01-94FNH0
HYDE project page: https://www.pbl.nl/en/hyde-history-database-of-the-global-environment
License
CC BY 4.0. Cite the original HYDE 3.3 publication when using this dataset.