About Us
As a Harvard University cross-school, interfaculty initiative administered by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies brings together scientists from all corners of the Harvard campus—and beyond—to make exciting advances in population research. With 8 billion people living on the planet and a projected 9.8 billion by 2050, our focus is on examining the most nuanced trends and important challenges in this century.
The Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies’ MISSION is to improve well-being around the world by better understanding the interaction of demographic changes with social and economic development. Our GOAL is to produce population-based evidence that will better inform policies needed to create healthy and resilient societies. We strive to conduct research, dissemination and public engagement that will enable societies to be more responsive to demographic transitions in terms of policies and culture change. To that end, in broad strokes, our primary RESEARCH FOCAL AREAS are: