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Mapping global variation in human mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Moritz U. G. Kraemer

    (Harvard University
    Boston Children’s Hospital
    University of Oxford)

  • Adam Sadilek

    (Google Inc.)

  • Qian Zhang

    (University of Washington)

  • Nahema A. Marchal

    (University of Oxford)

  • Gaurav Tuli

    (Boston Children’s Hospital)

  • Emily L. Cohn

    (Boston Children’s Hospital)

  • Yulin Hswen

    (Boston Children’s Hospital
    University of California, San Francisco)

  • T. Alex Perkins

    (University of Notre Dame)

  • David L. Smith

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • Robert C. Reiner

    (University of Washington
    University of Washington)

  • John S. Brownstein

    (Harvard University
    Boston Children’s Hospital)

Abstract

The geographic variation of human movement is largely unknown, mainly due to a lack of accurate and scalable data. Here we describe global human mobility patterns, aggregated from over 300 million smartphone users. The data cover nearly all countries and 65% of Earth’s populated surface, including cross-border movements and international migration. This scale and coverage enable us to develop a globally comprehensive human movement typology. We quantify how human movement patterns vary across sociodemographic and environmental contexts and present international movement patterns across national borders. Fitting statistical models, we validate our data and find that human movement laws apply at 10 times shorter distances and movement declines 40% more rapidly in low-income settings. These results and data are made available to further understanding of the role of human movement in response to rapid demographic, economic and environmental changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz U. G. Kraemer & Adam Sadilek & Qian Zhang & Nahema A. Marchal & Gaurav Tuli & Emily L. Cohn & Yulin Hswen & T. Alex Perkins & David L. Smith & Robert C. Reiner & John S. Brownstein, 2020. "Mapping global variation in human mobility," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(8), pages 800-810, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:8:d:10.1038_s41562-020-0875-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-0875-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Rashidisabet, Homa & Ajilore, Olusola & Leow, Alex & Demos, Alexander P., 2022. "Revisiting power-law estimation with applications to real-world human typing dynamics," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 599(C).
    2. Yu, Ling & Zhao, Pengjun & Tang, Junqing & Pang, Liang, 2023. "Changes in tourist mobility after COVID-19 outbreaks," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Å pela VerovÅ¡ek & Tadeja ZupanÄ iÄ & Matevž JuvanÄ iÄ & Simon PetrovÄ iÄ & Matija Svetina & Miha Janež & Žiga PuÅ¡nik & Iztok Lebar Bajec & Miha MoÅ¡kon, 2021. "The Aspect of Mobility and Connectivity While Assessing the Neighbourhood Sustainability," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 10, May.
    4. Rebecca D. Merrill & Ali Imorou Bah Chabi & Elvira McIntyre & Jules Venance Kouassi & Martial Monney Alleby & Corrine Codja & Ouyi Tante & Godjedo Togbemabou Primous Martial & Idriss Kone & Sarah Ward, 2021. "An approach to integrate population mobility patterns and sociocultural factors in communicable disease preparedness and response," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Weifeng Li & Jiawei He & Qing Yu & Yujiao Chang & Peng Liu, 2021. "Using POI Data to Identify the Demand for Pedestrian Crossing Facilities at Mid-Block," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-13, November.
    6. Ziedan, Abubakr & Darling, Wesley & Brakewood, Candace & Erhardt, Greg & Watkins, Kari, 2021. "The impacts of shared e-scooters on bus ridership," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 20-34.
    7. Kaixin Zhu & Zhifeng Cheng & Jianghao Wang, 2024. "Measuring Chinese mobility behaviour during COVID-19 using geotagged social media data," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.

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