Thomas Spoorenberg

About Thomas Spoorenberg

Demographer and population policy specialist with over 15 years of international experience at the United Nations, working at the intersection of population dynamics, demographic methods, inequality, and sustainable development. I lead and contribute to global population estimates and projections, demographic research, and the development of statistical methods and international standards, while supporting countries in strengthening population data systems for evidence-based policymaking.My academic research focuses on fertility change and fertility transitions, parity-specific fertility dynamics, mortality and health inequalities, historical population dynamics, and demographic data quality. I maintain an active publication record in leading peer-reviewed journals. My work combines formal demographic methods with applied analysis to advance understanding of demographic transition, population ageing, and demographic sustainability across diverse country contexts.Proven track record in- Producing flagship UN population reports and policy briefs- Managing complex demographic estimation, projection, and modeling work- Developing and applying fertility and mortality measurement methods using census and survey data- Delivering technical assistance and capacity building for national statistical offices- Translating demographic research into policy-relevant insights for the SDGs and “leave no one behind” agenda. I value collaborative, multidisciplinary work and combine rigorous quantitative analysis with clear communication, mentoring, and institutional capacity strengthening. I am particularly interested in improving demographic methods to better capture inequalities across population subgroups and over the life course. Country experience: Burundi, Ethiopia, Georgia, Jordan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Niger, Norway, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Switzerland, Viet Nam, USA. Selected publications, reports and projects: https://sites.google.com/site/thomasspoorenberg/

Experience

1. Senior Population Affairs Officer - Population Division, Migration and Urbanization Section

   United Nations

   Apr 2026 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• University of Geneva

  Licence (M.A.), Economic and Social History (with Minor in Environmental Studies)

  1998 — 2002

• Université catholique de Louvain

  DEA (M. Phil), Demography

  2002 — 2004

• University of Geneva

  PhD, Demography

  2005 — 2009

Skills

• Quantitative Research
• Research
• Population Estimates and Projections
• International Development
• Demography
• Data Analysis
• Capacity Building
• Teaching