TelluBase Definitions

Here we show what is included in Tellubase.

Data Series

The Tower of TelluBase

We show the contents of TelluBase in a simple 3D “tower”, demonstrating its comprehensiveness. It makes clear what is unique about TelluBase compared to conventional data sources.

The Tower of TelluBase has three dimensions: geographies, years, and data series.

Defining and Quantifing Socioeconomic Levels

The middle class is often talked about but seldom well defined. Before we embark on an expose on trends, we therefore define socioeconomic levels—what we call “Consumer Classes”.

Geograhic entities

TelluBase Global Coverage

This map shows the 218 countries, 2600 cities, and 2500 primary subdivisions we cover in Tellubase. Beyond this, we cover 25000 secondary subdivisions.

China – Cities and Subdivisions Covered in TelluBase

The map shows how TelluBase covers 425 cities and 342 secondary subdivisions in China.

Note that what many think are cities, the so-called prefecture-level cities (PLC), are not cities at all. They are secondary subdivisions and may contain many cities (at least one; up to eight) and always have rural areas.

Colombia – Cities and Subdivisions Covered in TelluBase

The map shows the 36 large cities and 1100 secondary subdivisions in Colombia.

For each of these entities, we cover economic, socioeconomic, and demographic information, as well as the size of the consumer classes. All this with a view toward the future with data covering 2000 till 2050.

European Union Cities and Subdivisions Covered in TelluBase

Countries typically paint too coarse a picture for the EU. A more suitable way to understand the European economy is to look at cities and NUTS socioeconomic regions.

We cover 504 cities and 349 subdivisions. They are NUTS 0, 1, 2, or 3 levels depending what representants a country best.

Mexico – Cities and Subdivisions Covered in TelluBase

The map shows the cities (92 zonas metropolitanas) and secondary subdivisions (1500 municipios) in Mexico.

For each of these entities, we cover economic, socioeconomic, and demographic information, as well as the size of the consumer classes. All this with a view toward the future with data covering 2000 till 2050.

Nigeria – Income per Household by Local Government Area

Local Government Areas (LGA) are the secondary subdivisions (below states) in Nigeria. This map shows the income per household for the close to 800 LGAs and the 50 cities with a population larger than 300,000.

Our TelluBase database covers these secondary subdivisions and cities within its Nigeria module.

United States – Cities Covered in TelluBase

tates are often too high level for insights in the U.S. Counties are too detailed. The U.S. government therefore developed Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) to allow for better policy making. Instead of subdividing the entire country, the MSAs focus on cities.

Our TelluBase database uses MSAs to define cities down to 100,000 inhabitants.