We study the structure and dynamics of populations and explore issues of political relevance, such as aging, fertility, and the redistribution of work over the life course, as well as digitization and the use of new data sources for the estimation of migration flows.
Kick off | March 25, 2026
University of Malawi and MPIDR Launch Exciting New Research Cooperation
In September 2025, Ben Malinga John became the head of the Max Planck Partner Group UNIMAX at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) in Zomba. Previously, he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in the Laboratory of Fertility and Well-Being. In February, he and his colleagues from Department of Sociology and Population at the University of Malawi hosted a kickoff workshop for the new Partner Group "UNIMAX: New Perspectives On The Demography Of The Family In Sub-Saharan Africa". The event, convened in Blantyre, focused on "Advancing New Perspectives and Methodologies in Population, Health, and Family Research in Sub-Saharan Africa". More
April
07
Scientific Presentations
LabTalks@SocialDemography
Megan Evans from the MaxHel Center and the Laboratory of Population Health gives a talk. More
All Events
Recommended Readings | April 02, 2026
Family Complexity Influences Health in Mid-Adulthood
New Issue 1/2026 available | March 31, 2026
The Quarterly German Newsletter
Introduction to our research groups
Migration and Health Inequalities
Press Release | March 05, 2026
Weaponizing Kinship
In a recent study published in the journal Population and Development Review, researchers quantified how many Colombians have ever lost at least a family member to conflict-related violence in the country. These killings and disappearances can be considered a deliberate tactic to destabilize families and communities. More
Selected Publications
Gueltzow, M.; Lahtinen, H.; Bijlsma, M. J.; Myrskylä, M.; Martikainen, P.:
Genetic propensity to depression and the role of partnership status Social Science and Medicine 351:116992, 1–8. (2024)
Basellini, U.:
Open science practices in demographic research: an appraisal Demographic Research 50:43, 1265–1280. (2024)
More Publications
Pre-Conference EPC Workshop
Climate Demography: Population Dynamics in a Changing Climate
Career
Open Positions
Questions and Answers
Being a Researcher at the MPIDR
Working at MPIDR
Life & Research in Rostock
Demographic Microsimulation in R using SOCSIM – Modelling Population and Kinship Dynamics
Latest Publications
Health, Morbidity and Mortality Working Group Side Meeting
Open Access
Online Available Books
News | March 04, 2026
Large Gaps in Migration Research
Migration research focuses primarily on high-income countries and regions, such as Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Despite their significant migrant populations, researchers have found that low-income countries, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia, are underrepresented. A recent study identified and analyzed about 125,000 migration-related publications. It shows that research output depends largely on the national research infrastructure and the authors' affiliation with specific institutions. More