Population

[Matt W]

This is something I once raised on the MP-L Yahoo group. It may explain why I think there's a need for something like the Red Stripe Trading Posts

Population figures for the TMP

One of the fundamental questions of worldbuilding is 'How many people
live here?". So here are some thoughts on some of the larger groups
and cultures. I'm going to go with a total North American population
(canada, US and Mexico) of about 20 to 25 million. (100K live in the Wisconsin Peninsula)

How does your MP universe vary from these figures?

Note: I'm NOT saying that there are - for example - 200 000 people aloft in balloons. I am saying that there are people on the ground who make/repair/support balloonists and that there are 200 000 of them

These are my attempt at the numbers

Ballooners: 200K - Even if they don't have 'airborne cities', I'm
assuming that there are 'cities' to support/manufacture the balloons

Bikers: 100K - very wide-ranging and with good technology

Breeders: 200K - If nothing else, the Breeders should be good at
population increase

Farmers: 2 million - the 'default' category for population outside the
empires and city-states. This covers everyone not classifiable as one
of the other Encounter Groups

Frozen Chosen: 2 million - they cover a wide (and often fertile) area
with a decent tech level

Gypsy Truckers: 200K - see note on Balloonists. Assume that there are
about 2000 trucker clans - each of about 100 people and teh 200 000 includes "gassers"

Inquisitors: 3 million - VERY big geographic range and need population
to support churches and training in their 'art form'

Maxwell's Militia: 0.5 million - Feudal, but high-tech - should have
good health system and incentives to increase population

New Confederacy: 2 million

New American Indians 500K

Oilers: 100K

Rich 5/KFS: 2 million people (including slaves) live in what was once Kentucky, most of Tennessee and part of Alabama

Razers: 10K

Shipmen: 500K (includes their "trading empire" around the Great Lakes)

Slavers: 20K

Texans: 3 million

Townspeople (independent towns and city states): 1 million

Universities: guestimate 250K

Warriors of Krell: 500K (includes the communities they prey upon)

Wanderers: 500K (nomads)