Skip to content

Data sources and updates

See IndoEuroMap data sources for cultural name signals, map boundaries, population references, checks, and updates.

Cultural name signals

The source records come from selected public places. Our algorithm classifies names into broad categories and combines them by area. The public site receives area summaries. It does not receive individual records or individual labels.

Classification uses saved name labels, model outputs, writing system rules, and names-dataset. Spain also uses saved Forebears name-reference tables. The methodology explains the current rules and known limits.

Names are imperfect cultural signals. Source records can include visitors and repeated names. These figures are not a census or a direct measure of resident identities.

Map boundaries

© EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries

Boundary sources depend on the place and map level. They include OpenStreetMap, Eurostat GISCO, EuroGeographics, and national or municipal sources.

The country differences section explains local boundary rules. A boundary error can change which area receives a place's records.

Population references

Population figures help calculate the data coverage score. They do not set the displayed origin group shares under the current method.

  • Countries: World Bank population totals for 2024. The saved copy was retrieved on . Source license: CC BY 4.0.
  • Regions: Eurostat regional population totals, with reference date . The saved copy was retrieved on .
  • Cities: saved city population figures. Their sources and reference years can differ.

These dates describe the population sources. They are not collection dates for the source records.

How updates reach the site

  1. Source records are collected and classified for selected cities.
  2. The records are combined into area profiles under the active rules.
  3. Checks review profile structure, counts, and map boundaries before export.
  4. Accepted area summaries enter the public site at its next release.

The checks confirm that the data can be used by the site. They do not establish the accuracy of each name classification.

Dates and changes

There is no single verified collection date for all records. Cities can use records from different periods. A site release date is not the date when every record was collected.

A figure can change after new records, a boundary correction, or a change to classification rules. A difference between two visits does not by itself show population change.

Use the map guide to interpret the figures. Contact us to ask about a source or report an error.