The Union was officially founded in 1928, at a meeting in Paris, which followed the International Population Conference held in Geneva during the preceding year (August 29 - September 3, 1927). This was the first World Population Conference - it was organised by Margaret Sanger - stressing the crucial nature of the population problems and their influence on social, economic and political situations. 

The IUSSP mission is to promote the scientific study of population, encourage exchange between researchers around the globe, and stimulate interest in population issues.