About us
Who & Where We are
Bright, pure in form, and transparent: the building that houses the MPIDR was designed by the Danish architect Henning Larsen.
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) investigates the structure and dynamics of populations. The Institute’s researchers explore issues of political relevance, such as demographic change, aging, fertility, and the redistribution of work over the life course, as well as aspects of evolutionary biology and medicine. The MPIDR is one of the largest demographic research bodies in Europe, and is a worldwide leader in the study of populations. The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society, the internationally renowned German research organization.
The MPIDR was founded in 1996. Currently, around 130 scientists and 40 technical and administrative staff work at the MPIDR. The directors of the Institute are James W. Vaupel and Joshua R. Goldstein. The Institute is based in Rostock, a vibrant city with a rich maritime history located near the Baltic Sea coast.