A new platform to make WorldPop global demographic data more accessible in the fight against COVID-19

University of Southampton Prof Andy Tatem has been advising partners at the Commonwealth Secretariat on how to effectively use big data to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, Prof Tatem and his team at WorldPop have put together a new platform to make WorldPop global demographic data more accessible for policymakers and frontline people in the fight against COVID-19.

The first version of the demographics portal is available here:

https://www.portal.worldpop.org/demographics/

As the data shows, case fatality and hospitalization rates for COVID-19 vary significantly by age and sex, with higher risks seen among elderly populations and males. Those countries and regions that have higher proportions and numbers of people in those risk categories are therefore likely to see greater strains on their health systems. The data presented in the demographic portal provide an evidence base to assess variations in demographic characteristics between and within countries that will relate to these health system burdens.

Prof Tatem and his team at WorldPop will be updating the portal further to include downloadable data on proportions and numbers in each age/sex category.

In the meantime, partners at Commonwealth Secretariat have set up a dedicated Commonwealth Coronavirus Response Centre, where they feature University of Southampton experts:

https://www.thecommonwealth.io/coronavirus-response-centre/