Population Reference Bureau
Population Reference Bureau is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1929 that analyzes and disseminates demographic data and population research to policymakers, educators, NGOs, journalists, and the public through free online data centers, reports, and USAID-funded programs operating in 20 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Population Reference Bureau does
Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit research organization founded in 1929 that collects, analyzes, and disseminates demographic data and population research. It serves a horizontally diversified audience of government policymakers, educators, academic researchers, advocacy NGOs, journalists, and the general public. PRB employs 101–250 staff across its Washington headquarters and an East Africa regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.
Its core products include the annual World Population Data Sheet — the organization's flagship publication tracking global fertility, mortality, migration, and demographic projections — and two online data platforms: the International Data Center and US Data Center, which provide interactive access to country- and state-level demographic indicators. Supporting these are the Resource Library (archive of reports, policy briefs, and articles), the Federal Data Forum community platform, and affiliated sites such as KidsData. The PACE (Policy, Advocacy, and Communication Enhanced for Population and Reproductive Health) project, funded by USAID since 2015, operates across 20 countries and builds local advocacy capacity for family planning and reproductive health policy.
PRB's business model is a freemium nonprofit model: all data sheets, reports, and data tools are distributed free of charge, including free classroom copies for teachers. Revenue is generated through three streams — government grants and contracts (anchored by the disclosed $30M USAID award for PACE), individual and institutional donations, and collaborative research partnerships such as the 2025 PRB/UnidosUS Latino working class study. Distribution runs entirely through digital channels (website, email newsletter, webinars, data portals), supplemented by direct engagement with ministries and advocacy partners. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed.
Population Reference Bureau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Population Reference Bureau
- Legal name
- Population Reference Bureau
- Website
- https://prb.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Population Reference Bureau is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1929 that analyzes and disseminates demographic data and population research to policymakers, educators, NGOs, journalists, and the public through free online data centers, reports, and USAID-funded programs operating in 20 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Population Reference Bureau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Demographic Research and Policy Analysis
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Census, Demographic & Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) (HLAJAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health Statistics & Reporting (National/State/Local Indicators) (HLAJAJAC), National Statistics & Census Administration (BPAIAAAF), Healthcare Utilization, Claims & Administrative Data Analytics (HLAJAJAK)
Keywords
Where Population Reference Bureau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Population Reference Bureau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Contracts: PRB receives funding from government agencies including USAID for specific projects like the PACE initiative supporting family planning and reproductive health programs globally.
- Donations and Contributions: PRB operates a donation program allowing individuals and organizations to support their work. The website prominently features a 'Donate' option.
- Research Partnerships: Collaborative research projects with organizations like UnidosUS, where PRB contributes analytical expertise in exchange for joint publication and expanded reach.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access to public resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Population Reference Bureau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is a nonprofit research organization that collects, analyzes, and disseminates demographic data and research on population, health, and the environment. Its core offerings include the annual World Population Data Sheet, the International Data Center, the US Data Center, the PACE Project on population, ageing, and climate, the Federal Data Forum, KidsData, the PRB Resource Library, and PRB News & Insights — all delivered primarily at no cost to inform public policy, education, and civil society.
Product overview
Population Reference Bureau is a nonprofit research organization focused on collecting, analyzing, and disseminating population data and demographic research. The organization operates primarily as a content and data publisher rather than a software product company. Its portfolio consists of the annual World Population Data Sheet as its flagship publication, two online Data Centers (International and US) providing interactive demographic statistics, a Resource Library of published reports and articles, the PACE project focused on reproductive health advocacy, the Federal Data Forum community platform, and affiliated platforms like KidsData. These offerings work together to serve policymakers, researchers, and advocates seeking population and health data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Federal Data Forum: A PRB-created community for data users to gather information, share news and tools, and mobilize to protect public data resources.
- PACE (Policy, Advocacy, and Communication Enhanced)
Products and services
- World Population Data Sheet
Quantifiable outcome
- PACE budget advocacy led to first-ever family planning budget line item in Samburu County, Kenya, valued at approximately $112,000
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Population Reference Bureau
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Population Reference Bureau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Population Reference Bureau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UnidosUScorePRB and UnidosUS partnered on a research series exploring the characteristics of the Latino working class in America. The inaugural report examines the demographic profile including age, race, gender, generational status, and education level, offering insights to inform policies that expand economic opportunity.
- KidsDataminorKidsData.org is listed as an affiliated site of PRB, providing child health and well-being data for California.
- MOMENTUM: A Global Partnership for Health and ResilienceminorMOMENTUM is a global partnership for health and resilience that PRB is affiliated with through the IMA World Health organization.
- Federal Data ForumcorePRB created and hosts the Federal Data Forum, a community for data users to gather information, share news and tools, and mobilize to protect public data resources—one of America's greatest democratic assets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Population Reference Bureau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RAND Corporation: Large nonprofit research institution producing policy analysis across health, demographics, and international development. Comparable in contract research model, demographic expertise, and influence on U.S. and international government decision-making.
- UN Population Division (UN DESA): The UN's primary international source for demographic data and population projections. Comparable because it produces the underlying global population data PRB analyzes and disseminates through its International Data Center.
- Brookings Institution: Large, established Washington-based policy research organization with broad demographic and economic research output. Comparable in nonprofit policy-research model and use of demographic analysis to inform U.S. policy debate, though considerably larger in scope and resources.
Direct peers
- Urban Institute: Nonprofit research organization producing economic and social policy analysis with rigorous data work. Comparable in nonprofit model, evidence-based research output, and policy translation focus, though broader in scope than PRB.
- Guttmacher Institute: Nonprofit research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health. Directly comparable to PRB because both produce demographic and reproductive health research intended to inform U.S. and international policy and advocacy.
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): Independent nonprofit health policy research organization producing data and analysis on health, aging, Medicare, and population issues. Comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and reliance on free public distribution to inform policymakers and media.
- Mathematica Policy Research: Nonprofit research organization focused on social policy, health, and program evaluation using rigorous data analytics. Comparable in funding mix (government contracts, grants), analytical depth, and use of data to inform federal and state policy.
- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF): Global nonprofit umbrella for reproductive health advocacy and service delivery across more than 100 countries. Comparable because PRB's PACE program explicitly supports advocacy and policy communication for family planning and reproductive health in similar geographies.
Others
- U.S. Census Bureau: Federal agency that produces the underlying population, demographic, and census data PRB analyzes and republishes through its US Data Center. Comparable as a primary demographic data producer, but government rather than nonprofit.
- World Bank: Multilateral institution producing global development and demographic data, including population projections PRB references. Comparable as a data provider and policy influencer, but as a government-backed entity rather than an independent nonprofit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Population Reference Bureau social profiles
Digital presencePopulation Reference Bureau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Population Reference Bureau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Population Reference Bureau subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Population Reference Bureau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Population Reference Bureau M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Population Reference Bureau
What does Population Reference Bureau do?
Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is a nonprofit research organization that collects, analyzes, and disseminates demographic data and research on population, health, and the environment. Its core offerings include the annual World Population Data Sheet, the International Data Center, the US Data Center, the PACE Project on population, ageing, and climate, the Federal Data Forum, KidsData, the PRB Resource Library, and PRB News & Insights — all delivered primarily at no cost to inform public policy, education, and civil society.
Is Population Reference Bureau a public or private company?
Population Reference Bureau is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Population Reference Bureau founded?
Population Reference Bureau was founded in 1929. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Population Reference Bureau based?
Population Reference Bureau is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Population Reference Bureau make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Contracts are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and research Partnerships.
Who are Population Reference Bureau's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RAND Corporation, UN Population Division (UN DESA) and Brookings Institution. Direct peers are Urban Institute, Guttmacher Institute, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Mathematica Policy Research and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Others are U.S. Census Bureau and World Bank.
Does Population Reference Bureau have an API?
No public API is recorded for Population Reference Bureau.
What industry is Population Reference Bureau in?
Population Reference Bureau's product category is Demographic Research and Policy Analysis. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAJAH, Census, Demographic & Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), with a secondary code of HLAJAJAC, Health Statistics & Reporting (National/State/Local Indicators). Its NAICS code is 813212.