Location Classification Methodology
Every location is classified Urban, Peri-Urban or Rural against the UN's DEGURBA standard, using pre-computed Global Human Settlement Layer data.
Version 1.0 · DEGURBA (UN Statistical Commission, March 2020) · Updated February 2026
Terminology
The three categories
| Our term | DEGURBA official term | Density threshold | Cluster population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | Urban Centre | ≥1,500 people/km² | ≥50,000 |
| Peri-Urban | Towns & Semi-dense Areas (Urban Cluster) | ≥300 people/km² | ≥5,000 |
| Rural | Rural Grid Cells | <300 people/km² | N/A |
A note on naming
We say Peri-Urban because it reads naturally for programme teams and funders. It maps exactly onto DEGURBA's Towns and Semi-dense Areas category.
Source Priority
One cascade, not a vote
| Priority | Source | Resolution | What it provides |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Primary | GHSL SMOD | 1 km grid | Pre-computed DEGURBA classification with cluster analysis |
| 2 · Fallback | Kontur Population | H3 Res 8 (~0.737 km²) | Population density per hexagon |
| 3 · Last resort | WorldPop | 100 m grid | Population count per pixel |
Why GHSL SMOD is primary
SMOD codes are the output of a full DEGURBA implementation by the EU Joint Research Centre. They already incorporate everything we would otherwise have to rebuild:
- Density threshold filtering (300/km² and 1,500/km²)
- Contiguity testing for connected grid cells
- Cluster population validation (5,000 and 50,000)
- Gap-filling and edge smoothing
We implement no cluster analysis of our own, because GHSL SMOD has done it correctly already.
What the fallbacks add
Where the 1 km SMOD grid is unavailable or ambiguous, the cascade steps down in resolution rather than guessing: Kontur hexagons carry real density estimates, and WorldPop pixel counts are the last resort before a location is flagged unclassified.
GHSL SMOD
Settlement model codes, mapped
| Code | GHSL name | Our category |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Urban Centre | Urban |
| 23 | Dense Urban Cluster | Urban |
| 22 | Semi-Dense Urban Cluster | Peri-Urban |
| 21 | Suburban | Peri-Urban |
| 13 | Rural Cluster | Rural |
| 12 | Low Density Rural | Rural |
| 11 | Very Low Density Rural | Rural |
| 10 | Water | N/A |
Fallback Layer
Kontur density thresholds
When GHSL SMOD is unavailable, classification falls through to Kontur population density:
| Classification | People per H3 Res 8 hexagon | Equivalent density |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | ≥1,000 | ~1,356 people/km² |
| Peri-Urban | 300 to 999 | ~407 to 1,355 people/km² |
| Rural | <300 | <407 people/km² |
H3 Resolution 8 specifications
- Average area: 0.737327 km² (737,327 m²)
- Average edge length: 461 m
- "400 m hexagon" is Kontur's shorthand, not actual dimensions
Compliance
Why this is DEGURBA-compliant
-
Official primary source
The primary data source (GHSL SMOD) is produced by the EU JRC using official DEGURBA methodology.
-
Built-in thresholds
SMOD codes incorporate cluster identification and the population thresholds DEGURBA requires.
-
Derived fallbacks
Fallback sources use density thresholds derived from DEGURBA standards, not ad-hoc guesses.
References
- DEGURBA: A New Degree of Urbanisation (Eurostat)
- GHSL Settlement Model (EU JRC)
- H3 Resolution Table (Uber H3)
- UN Statistical Commission Report (March 2020)