[4] Established in July 1956, it was initially known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC) until 1970 and then as the International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS) until 1985.

In 1985, it was re-designated to its current title and declared a Deemed to be University on August 19, 1985, under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

[5][6] Founded under the sponsorship of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Government of India, and the United Nations, IIPS serves a large population in the Asia and Pacific region.

[6] On 28 July 2023, Prof. K. S. James, the then Director of IIPS was temporarily suspended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare because of issues related to the hiring process for faculty members.

On 11 October 2023, the Union Ministry issued an order revoking the suspension and accepted his resignation submitted in early August without stating whether the allegations against James were found to be false.