Yes Tim, I was suprised too. My guess is it is due to both the factors
you have mentioned - large population as well as most developed among
the developing nations. However, electricity is not very reliabale
except in few big cities. There are chronic power outages in smaller
towns and villages.
Other interesting features I found in this remarkable picture are:
- Marked contrast between South and North Korea
- African continent mostly dark
- Nile river in Egypt is illuminated (population mostly along the Nile
river)
- Vast portion of China is dark