The　population　distribution　within　areas　potentially　impacted　by　major　accidents　is　crucial　for　societal　risk　analysis.　Population　data　are　essential　for　land　use　planning　activities　related　to　major　accident　hazards.　However,　repeated　quantitative　risk　assessments　(QRA)　and　diverse　planning　scenarios　complicate　planning　decisions　in　Major　Hazard　Installation　(MHI)　areas.　This　study　introduces　an　analysis　method　for　the　safety　of　population　distribution　in　potential　impact　zones　of　major　accidents.　By　combining　accident　simulation　and　population　distribution　characteristics　analysis,　we　established　standardized　indicators　that　succinctly　indicate　safety　thresholds　for　societal　risks,　addressing　the　challenge　of　rapidly　assessing　off-site　population　safety.　A　rapid　formula　meeting　practical　needs　is　provided　for　urban　managers　and　planners,　enabling　them　to　easily　evaluate　how　population　density　and　distribution　affect　societal　risks　in　MHI　areas.　Finally,　we　applied　this　method　to　the　flammable　and　explosive　hazardous　material　enterprises　in　Shijiazhuang,　China,　demonstrating　its　functionality　and　practicality.　The　application　results　suggest　its　potential　as　a　useful　decision-support　method　for　guiding　urban　planning　and　emergency　management.　This　work　offers　new　insights　and　valuable　demonstrations　for　enhancing　vulnerability　and　land　use　risk　assessments　in　MHI　regions.