Office of the Director
The Office of the Director provides overall leadership and programme management support to the Division, including coordination of activities at Departmental level and among sections of the Division. The Director of the Population Division represents the Secretary-General in the Committee for the United Nations Population Award.
Demographic Analysis Branch
Fertility and Family Planning Section
The Fertility and Family Planning Section monitors levels and trends in the area of fertility, family planning and nuptiality (marriage and union patterns), including indicators under Millennium Development Goal 5 to improve maternal health.
In addition to preparing official documents and other publications, including electronic datasets, the Section organises technical meetings on topics related to fertility and reproductive health.
Population Policy Section
The Population Policy Section is responsible for global monitoring of Government views and policies on key population issues, such as population size and growth, fertility, reproductive health and family planning, health and mortality, population ageing, urbanization, and international migration. The Section prepares a regular report on World Population Policies and has built and maintains a comprehensive, global database on population policies, going back to the mid-1970s.
The Section is also responsible for implementing the United Nations Inquiry among Governments on Population and Development. Between 1963 and 2012, the Secretary General has conducted ten rounds of the Inquiry. The Inquiries have been a unique and invaluable research tool in monitoring national population policies.
Migration Section
The Migration Section monitors trends in the area of international migration and development, including the estimation of international migrant flows and migrant stocks by age and sex.
In addition to preparing official documents and other publications, including electronic databases, the Section from time to time organises technical meetings on migration, including annual coordination meetings of various entities, both inside and outside the United Nations system, with an interest in the area of international migration.
Population Studies Branch
Population and Development Section
The Population and Development Section deals with the selected aspects of the interrelationships between population and development, in particular the interrelationships between population, resources and the environment; urbanization; and population ageing.
In addition to preparing official documents and other publications, including databases, the Section from time to time organises technical meetings on its area of expertise.
Population Estimates and Projections Section
The Population Estimates and Projections Section prepares biennial revisions of population estimates and projections for all countries of the world, currently covering the period 1950-2100 as well as estimates and projections of urban and rural populations and selected urban agglomerations from 1950 to 2035. The estimates and projections prepared by the Section serve as reference throughout the United Nations system and are also widely used by Governments, the private sector, academia, and the media.
In addition to developing and maintaining demographic databases, the Section provides data for numerous reports and from time to time conducts technical meetings on methodological issues relating to demographic estimation and projection.
Mortality Section
The Mortality Section monitors trends in the area of mortality and morbidity by age and sex for all countries of the world.
In addition to preparing official documents and other publications, including electronic datasets, the Section organises technical meetings on mortality and related topics, including coordination meetings of various entities, both inside and the outside the United Nations system, with an interest in the area of adult mortality estimation.