Understanding
Human
Populations
Rigorous, interdisciplinary research on demographic change, migration, health equity, and the forces reshaping societies across our world.
Science at the Service of People
The Institute for Population Studies is an independent, non-partisan research organization committed to generating and translating evidence on the dynamics of human populations — how we live, move, age, and relate to our environments.
Our researchers partner with governments, international agencies, universities, and civil society to ensure demographic knowledge reaches those who most need it: policymakers, advocates, and communities.
Influencing Policy Across Five Continents
Our researchers engage with national governments, UN agencies, the World Bank, and civil society — translating demographic evidence into action at every scale.
Research Areas
Six interconnected domains of inquiry exploring how populations form, move, age, and transform.
Our Research Domains
Each area is led by a dedicated team of senior fellows, researchers, and postdoctoral scholars working across multiple active projects.
Fertility & Family Formation
Investigating long-term fertility decline, changing family structures, and the policy contexts shaping reproductive behavior across societies.
Explore →Migration & Displacement
Examining drivers and consequences of human mobility — from forced displacement and refugee crises to urbanization worldwide.
Explore →Population Aging
Studying the social, economic, and health implications of aging populations across Europe, East Asia, and the developing world.
Explore →Health & Mortality
Analyzing disparities in health outcomes and mortality differentials by race, gender, and socioeconomic status across nations.
Explore →Population & Environment
Exploring intersections of demographic change, climate vulnerability, and sustainability for growing and shrinking populations.
Explore →Inequality & Stratification
Measuring disparities in income, education, and opportunity across demographic groups and how population dynamics reproduce social hierarchies.
Explore →Publications
Peer-reviewed research, working papers, and policy briefs from our researchers.
Recent Publications
Browse our latest research across all six thematic areas. All working papers are freely available.
Our Researchers
A multidisciplinary faculty spanning demography, sociology, economics, public health, and geography.
Faculty & Fellows
64 researchers across 22 nationalities, united by a commitment to rigorous, policy-relevant population science.
News & Commentary
Analysis and insight from our researchers on the population trends shaping the world.
Latest from IPS
Policy briefs, media commentary, featured analyses, and institute news.
Why Global Fertility May Not Recover — And What It Means for Economic Growth
New modeling from the Institute challenges optimistic projections, suggesting structural forces — rising education costs, housing unaffordability, and shifting values — may lock many societies into persistent low fertility for decades.
Read Full Analysis →
Rethinking Pension Reform in Aging Europe
As old-age dependency ratios climb across southern Europe, conventional reform models may be insufficient without complementary immigration policy.
Read →
The Invisible Crisis: Internal Displacement and Urban Overcrowding
Internal displacement receives far less policy attention than international migration, despite growing scale and severity across dozens of countries.
Read →Data & Resources
Open datasets, visualizations, and tools freely available to researchers worldwide.
Open Data & Tools
All datasets are free to download. Registration required for bulk API access.
Global Demographic Database
Harmonized historical and contemporary demographic indicators for 195 countries spanning 1950–2024. Fertility, mortality, migration, and age structure. Updated quarterly.
Access Dataset →
Urban Migration Index
Index capturing rural-to-urban migration flows across 80 low- and middle-income countries since 2000. Version 3 released February 2026 with expanded coverage.
Access Dataset →
Population Visualizer Tool
Interactive browser-based tool for exploring population pyramids, cohort survival, and demographic projections for all UN member states through 2100.
Open Tool →Our Programs
Flagship research, training, and capacity-building programs translating demographic science into real-world impact.
Active Programs
Six programs operating across research, training, policy engagement, and open data.
Advanced Training in Demographic Methods
Six-week residential training for mid-career researchers from low- and middle-income countries. Covers demographic analysis, spatial modeling, and evidence-to-policy translation.
Population, Climate & Sustainability Initiative
Cross-disciplinary program examining links between demographic dynamics, environmental change, and sustainable development across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Global Health Equity & Mortality Program
Studying the structural determinants of mortality differentials within and across nations, with a focus on maternal health, child survival, and non-communicable disease burden.
Policy Engagement & Evidence Translation
Embedding researchers with government ministries, parliaments, and international agencies to co-produce policy-relevant evidence and support data-driven decision making.
Open Data & Digital Demography Program
Building and maintaining open demographic datasets, computational tools, and digital infrastructure to democratize access to population science globally.
IPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Two-year residential fellowships for exceptional early-career scholars. Fellows receive mentorship, research funding, and access to IPS networks across government and academia.
Partners & Funders
Leading global institutions working alongside us to generate and translate evidence that reaches those who need it most.
Our Partners
Partnerships spanning data collection, joint research, capacity building, and policy engagement.
Collaboration at Every Scale
The Institute's work is made possible through partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies, philanthropic foundations, and leading universities. Our partnerships span data collection, joint research, capacity building, and policy engagement across more than 180 countries.
United Nations Population Fund
UNFPA · Global PartnerWorld Bank Group
Development EconomicsWorld Health Organization
Health & Mortality DataHarvard University
T.H. Chan School of Public HealthYale University
Department of SociologyUC Berkeley
Demography DepartmentLondon School of Economics
Department of Social PolicyAfrican Union Commission
Social Affairs DepartmentGates Foundation
Global Health ProgramIOM
Migration AgencyUniv. of Paris
INED PartnershipMax Planck Institute
Demographic ResearchAPHRC
African ResearchNIH
Fogarty Int'l CenterWellcome Trust
Global Health FunderIIED
Environment & Dev.Population Action Int'l
Policy AdvocacyUNICEF
Child & Youth DataRockefeller Foundation
Program FunderAusAID / DFAT
Pacific ResearchKauffman Foundation
Data InfrastructureEvents & Seminars
Upcoming workshops, conferences, public lectures, and seminars hosted by the Institute.
Upcoming Events
All events are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Registration links below.
Get In Touch
Research collaborations, data access, press inquiries, and general questions — we welcome all.
Connect With Us
Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, journalist, or member of the public, we welcome inquiry and collaboration.
Institute for Population Studies
Our work is most meaningful when it reaches beyond the academy. We welcome inquiry and collaboration from researchers, policymakers, journalists, and members of the public worldwide.
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
