A dataset of population density on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Tibetan Empire Period

The ecological environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is fragile, and its internal population shows a clear regional differentiation. This study constructs a dataset on the spatial distribution of population during the Tibetan Empire Period, when the Tibetan Plateau was first unified. First, population data were obtained from historical documents and books. Second, using land use as a restrictive factor, the weights of elevation, slope, rivers, ancient settlements, post stations, and other factors were determined through the expert scoring method and Analytic Hierarchy Process to construct impact coefficients. Finally, a grid model of 1 km × 1 km population distribution was constructed to calculate population density. After verification, the error in population distribution for the Tuyuhun and Bailan regions is around 20%. This dataset can provide a basis for regional sustainable development, and can also serve as a reference for the long-term evolutionary model of human coping mechanisms in high-altitude regions.