Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

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

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

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