Demographic projections are central to understanding how populations evolve and to planning for the future. Governments, international organisations, and researchers rely on forecasts of fertility, mortality, and migration to anticipate demand for schools, healthcare systems, housing, and pensions. Yet producing reliable projections remains a complex task. Population processes are shaped by changing social norms, economic conditions, and individual decision-making, all of which introduce uncertainty and make it difficult to capture future trends accurately.

On 19 March 2026, the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS) at the University of Oxford brought together researchers, collaborators, industry and government for its annual Demographic Science Summit at Worcester College, Oxford. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on what has been an exceptionally productive year for the centre — marked by rapid growth, an expanding research community, and a remarkable output of new demographic and interdisciplinary research.