An analysis of geolocation data from mobile operators has uncovered a significant disparity in population figures for major Czech cities, with approximately 200,000 more residents in Prague and 60,000 more in Brno than reported by the official Czech Statistical Office (CSU), as revealed in a presentation by Interior Ministry officials.

The discrepancies are attributed to the influx of commuters who work or study in these cities but do not return home daily, coupled with individuals failing to report changes of residence to the population register. The Interior Ministry emphasizes the potential of leveraging this geolocation data for enhanced planning of public services and optimizing office locations.

The geolocation data highlights the most substantial difference in Olomouc, a regional capital, where there are 20% more residents than indicated by official statistics. Conversely, Usti nad Labem reports 9,000 fewer people than its official population count. In structurally affected regions such as Usti nad Labem, Moravia-Silesia, and Karlovy Vary, similar differences of 10-20% are observed in most larger towns.

Unlike traditional population census data, the mobile operators’ geolocation data offer dynamic insights into population movements throughout the week and different parts of each day. The analysis uncovers strong commuting patterns around major cities like Prague, Brno, and Ostrava.

The data also spotlight extreme variations in population density at specific times in tourist-centric locations. Notably, the Spindleruv Mlyn ski resort in the Krkonose mountains experiences a surge from 2,400 people at 7 am on Mondays to 5,800 at the same time on Sundays. Similarly, in Krivoklat, a village with a renowned castle in central Bohemia, the population jumps from 520 on Monday afternoon to 1,150 on Sunday.

Prague, a hub for daily commuting, sees fluctuations with 1,436,000 people at noon on Thursdays, 1,070,000 on Sunday mornings, and 1,227,000 on Sunday evenings.

The geolocation data relies on SIM card locations reported regularly to the nearest transmitter, enabling the mapping of population and traffic behavior over an extended period. The Interior Ministry procured this valuable dataset from mobile operators through a public contract, investing €1.1 million (26.8 million crowns) from the EEA and Norway Grants. The utilization of such data signifies a step toward more accurate and dynamically informed urban planning and public service provisioning in Czech cities.

Article by Prague Forum