Global Historical Population

Download · CSV · 1.85 kB Explore with AI Report an Issue

API Access

Access dataset files directly from scripts, code, or AI agents.

Browse dataset files

Dataset Files

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.

/core/population-global-historical/

├ README.md

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/README.md

├ UPDATE_SCRIPT_MAINTENANCE_REPORT.md

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/UPDATE_SCRIPT_MAINTENANCE_REPORT.md

├ data/population.csv

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/data/population.csv

└ datapackage.json

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/datapackage.json

Key Files

Start with these files — they give you everything you need to understand and access the dataset.

datapackage.json— metadata & schema

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/datapackage.json

README.md— documentation

https://datahub.io/core/population-global-historical/_r/-/README.md

Typical Usage

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 Files

Explore with AI

population

Loading data...

Field	Type	Description
Year	number
Average	number	Average number of people in millions
Deevey	number	Number of people in millions
McEvedy and Jones 1978	number	Number of people in millions
Durand Low	number	Number of people in millions
Durand High	number	Number of people in millions
Clark	number	Number of people in millions
Biraben	number	Number of people in millions
Blaxter	number	Number of people in millions
UN	number	Number of people in millions
Kremer	number	Number of people in millions

Download

Download CSV

About

Last updated: 5 March 2026
Total rows: ...
Format: CSV
File size: 1.85 kB
Source: Appendix in Joel E. Cohen, *How Many People Can the Earth Support?*, Norton 1996, ISBN 0-393-31495-2
License: Open Data Commons Public Domain Dedication and Licence (PDDL)

About this dataset

Global historical population data

Data

The population data starts from -1000000 BC to 1990 with the average number of people. There are several population data from the different reports such as: Deevey,McEvedy and Jones 1978,Durand Low,Durand High,Clark,Biraben,Blaxter,UN,Kremer.

Source: Appendix in Joel E. Cohen, How Many People Can the Earth Support?, Norton 1996, ISBN 0-393-31495-2.

License

Public Domain Dedication and License.