Relation between satellite observed visible-near infrared emissions, population, economic activity and electric power consumption

The area lit by anthropogenic visible-near infrared emissions (i.e., lights) has been estimated for 21 countries using night-time data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS). The area lit is highly correlated to gross domestic product and electric power consumption. Significant outliers exist in the relation between area lit and population. The results indicate that the local level of economic development must be factored into the apportionment of population across the land surface based on DMSP-OLS observed lights.