This database serves as a comprehensive inventory of national population policies as of 1999. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, compiled this data, which is available on diskette, to provide insights into the policies of UN member states and non-member permanent observers. It covers critical areas such as population growth, mortality rates, fertility trends, internal migration patterns, and immigration and emigration statistics. The GRIPP:1999 database offers a snapshot of global population policy at the turn of the millennium.

The Global Population Policy Database, 1999, as compiled by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, offers a structured overview of national population policies at a specific historical juncture. Its utility lies in providing a consolidated source for comparative analysis of demographic strategies across nations. The database's focus on key indicators like growth, mortality, fertility, and migration makes it a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers interested in global demographic trends and governmental approaches to population management.