diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/demes/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/demes/default.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..986bb7f9ac9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/demes/default.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+{ lib
+, buildPythonPackage
+, fetchPypi
+, setuptools-scm
+, ruamel-yaml
+, attrs
+, pythonOlder
+, pytestCheckHook
+, pytest-xdist
+, numpy
+}:
+
+buildPythonPackage rec {
+  pname = "demes";
+  version = "0.2.3";
+  format = "pyproject";
+  disabled = pythonOlder "3.7";
+
+  src = fetchPypi {
+    inherit pname version;
+    hash = "sha256-nmE7ZbR126J3vKdR3h83qJ/V602Fa6J3M6IJnIqCNhc=";
+  };
+
+  nativeBuildInputs = [
+    setuptools-scm
+  ];
+
+  propagatedBuildInputs = [
+    ruamel-yaml
+    attrs
+  ];
+
+  postPatch = ''
+    # remove coverage arguments to pytest
+    sed -i '/--cov/d' setup.cfg
+  '';
+
+  nativeCheckInputs = [
+    pytestCheckHook
+    pytest-xdist
+    numpy
+  ];
+
+  disabledTestPaths = [
+    "tests/test_spec.py"
+  ];
+
+  pythonImportsCheck = [
+    "demes"
+  ];
+
+  meta = with lib; {
+    description = "Tools for describing and manipulating demographic models";
+    homepage = "https://github.com/popsim-consortium/demes-python";
+    license = licenses.isc;
+    maintainers = with maintainers; [ alxsimon ];
+  };
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
index 3e2540841e3d..3f57497c49bb 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/python-packages.nix
@@ -2501,6 +2501,8 @@ self: super: with self; {
 
   deluge-client = callPackage ../development/python-modules/deluge-client { };
 
+  demes = callPackage ../development/python-modules/demes { };
+
   demetriek = callPackage ../development/python-modules/demetriek { };
 
   demjson3 = callPackage ../development/python-modules/demjson3 { };