Abstract: Methods for counting persons in images and system therefrom are provided. The method can include obtaining image data for multiple sequential images of a physical area acquired by a camera. The method can also include, based on the image data, generating a background mask for at least one image from the multiple images, where the background mask indicating pixels identified as corresponding to non-moving regions and pixels identified as corresponding to moving regions in the at least one image meeting an exclusion criteria. The method additionally includes, based on the background mask, generating a foreground mask for the at least one image identifying pixels in the image associated with persons and computing an estimate of a number of persons in the physical area based at least on the number of the foreground pixels and pre-defined relationship between a number of pixels and a number of persons for the camera.