It is essential to many projects to have some knowledge of population data (socio-economic manpower, distribution'). However most
developing countries do not have or have little information concerning their population. High- and very high-resolution satellite
images represent a new opportunity to improve population knowledge. The objective of this project is to develop, in rural and
urban areas, a new method of population estimate based on satellite images, to highlight its cost and to compare it with the costs of
censuses. Two types of approaches are considered according to the different case-studies. When the dwellings are identifiable on
the image thanks to their shape, their texture and their spatial arrangement a direct approach is considered. It consists in
multiplying the number of dwellings by the average population per dwelling. If the dwellings are too small to be identified and counted,
the population estimate will be carried out using a zonal approach: the surface of the built-up area is measured and multiplied
by the density of inhabitants. In order to obtain precise data, a questionnaire was drawn up and submitted to resource-people in
order to quantify various parameters relating to the households and their lifestyle. The objective of the project is to set up a
replicable method that can be used easily and quickly.