PRB

Why It Matters

Longer lives are a global success story. But they also bring new challenges: fewer working-age adults to support older generations, rising health and caregiving needs, and mounting pressure on social protection systems. In countries where both birth rates  and populations are decreasing, these shifts raise tough questions about economic growth and how communities sustain themselves over time. That’s where PRB comes in.

How We Drive Change

The overarching goal of this work is to identify the keys to resilience in the face of population decline, whether through adapting the future of work, supporting care economies, or sustaining quality of life with a shrinking tax base. Our work includes:

• Analyzing trends in birth rates, life expectancy, and migration to show how populations are changing in size and age.
• Looking ahead by turning demographic data into forecasts that guide planning for health, care, and economic systems.
• Equipping journalists, advocates, and decisionmakers with training and data visualizations to turn complex numbers into clearer narratives and smarter solutions.
• Hosting public events and engaging with the media to combat misinformation and fear around population trends and guide the public discourse toward resilient, people-centered responses.

Raising visibility of how aging and shrinking populations affect equity, gender, and opportunity in policy debates in the United States and worldwide.

Powering Policy With Data

National Institute on Aging Partnership

Translates cutting-edge research on aging and health into findings that guide health policy and long-term care planning. Our publications and visualizations on life expectancy, dementia, and other health trends among older Americans have informed leaders from Congress to national agencies and the National Council on Aging, and have been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian.

AARP Partnership

Builds the evidence base for livable, age-friendly communities and healthier longevity. PRB’s briefs on multiage communities and walkable streets guide how communities support older adults while fostering connections across generations. PRB leaders have also contributed to AARP’s Global Thought Leadership Conference, elevating demographic data in global conversations on aging. Together, this work helps ensure policies create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities for all ages.

Smaller World Series

Convenes global experts to explore forward-looking responses to low fertility, aging, and shrinking populations. These conversations give policymakers, advocates, journalists, and researchers vital insights and new perspectives on how societies can adapt to smaller workforces, changing family structures, and greater caregiving needs.

Population Europe Collaboration

A new cross-Atlantic dialogue on the challenges of aging and population decline. By connecting insights across regions, PRB and Population Europe are working to help governments anticipate change, design responsive policies, and build stronger societies.

Foresight for Future Generations

At PRB, we believe demographic evidence must serve the people it describes. Aging and depopulation bring profound challenges, but with the right tools, leaders can plan ahead—and build a thriving future. Our work ensures policies strengthen today’s communities while securing opportunity for generations to come.

Let us guide you toward a resilient future.

Work with us