They need to do proper estimation technique and provide the 'formula' they used to gouge it's accuracy. For example this is what normal societies do. They do a 'quick' sample of a 'tuulo' and then they apply their estimation formula and to see the 'deviation' error so now you know the proper population of the tuulo while you also tested your 'estimation formula' to ensure it's accurate within a 'degree' of deviation.
For example my Formula was a simple one but they can be quite complex to become more accurate. I used my family household at an 'awoowe level' and I know how much we are. We are nearly 50 people today. Then I estimated how many live in 'towns' and it's very small percentage of my family living in towns, maybe 10 of them. So that's 20% of my family is settled and 80% unsettled. Then you can find the lowest sample rate of 'rural to city' in another family sample and work out an average in the end. Anyways this allows you to know how your people are settled. U then apply basic 'measurements' of each town using the 'size' and work out how big a house size is and you can determine how many houses will fit in that area.
Once you know the sample rate for each house-hold u can work out quickly what that town, city, village population is. You can cross verify this with a proper 'census' sample from a small tuulo to 'gouge' your formula is 'accurate to certain degree that is acceptable range.
In PL your talking maybe 7 Major Towns. Bosaso-Galkacyo-Garowe-Qardho-Badhan-Buhodle-Las anod. So you grade these towns as A level. Then B level towns are 'sizable and in between village and major town'. For example Burtinle, Qandala, Bayla, Eyl, Galdogob, Bursalax, Jariban, Dhahar. They tend to have more B towns in PL then A towns. Then you go down to 'tuulo' and count how many tuulo and grade them as C towns. U can apply a consistent formula till you know the over-all population. Then you need to 'count' what is the percentage who enter your towns 'daily' for example Bosaso amount of 'people' who enter daily would be very high similar to London. So this needs another 'sample' mechanism. U need to add that into the population as this will require 'funding' to provide services.
I would also include 'diaspora' sample rate for Puntlanders to work out our 'diaspora' and We need a gouge population estimate on Wardheer Ethiopia and the Kismaayo-Waamo-Ku-dhaa island area. Why you need this is because they are connected to the state ancestorally and could shift around thru travel between the 'two states' which also needs carefully economically planning to 'create' the right environment for the 'potential' population in the state.