Population Reference Bureau

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.

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

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

• Demographic research
• Population data analysis
• Public health policy
• Reproductive health advocacy
• Census data resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Donations and Contributions: PRB operates a donation program allowing individuals and organizations to support their work. The website prominently features a 'Donate' option.
3. Research Partnerships: Collaborative research projects with organizations like UnidosUS, where PRB contributes analytical expertise in exchange for joint publication and expanded reach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UnidosUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025PRB 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.
• KidsDataminorOthersKidsData.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 ResilienceminorOthersMOMENTUM is a global partnership for health and resilience that PRB is affiliated with through the IMA World Health organization.
• Federal Data ForumcoreOthersPRB 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/PRBdata
• Facebookfacebook.com/PopulationReferenceBureau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1463992

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Population Reference Bureau