Middle Earth Census - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lady Snickerdoodle · 04-13-2004, 01:35 PM

A random thought, but if one were to conduct a census of all the, um, beings in Middle Earth, what would the final count be, about? LIke the number of elves, men, hobbits, dwarves and such. And how would one go about doing it?

Another thought, it seems like the main habitations of ME are the Shire, Rivendell, Gondor and Rohan. And nowhere else mentionable. Just remarking.

Gil Galad · 04-13-2004, 01:49 PM

Yes, an interesting thought. There'd probably be about.... hmm I don't know.

Lord of Angmar · 04-13-2004, 01:52 PM

As far as I know, it would be impossible to estimate the total number of all people of various races of Middle-earth at any one point in time, especially if you were to include the Hither Lands. Perhaps it would be roughly similar to the population size of mediaeval Europe before the plague.

There are certainly a few more nations and lands in Middle-earth than the ones you mentioned. Mirkwood, Bree, Lothlorien, Dale, Harad and Mordor, to name a few. Do orcs and Nazgul count as "beings"?

Gil Galad · 04-13-2004, 02:06 PM

I wouldn't count Nazgul, we know how many of them there are in middle earth. Orcs, maybe, if you can survive long enough to count them all

Firefoot · 04-13-2004, 02:08 PM

I don't think it would be impossible. Extraordinarily difficult, yes. Impossible, no. Some places would be easier than others. The Shire probably wouldn't be all that hard. Someplace such as Gondor where all the people are spread out would be more difficult. Another place worth mentioning would be the area of the Grey Havens. There were quite a few Elves living there still.

As for estimating, I will use Rohan as an example. At the time of the WotR, they sent about 6,000 men to Gondor and still had some left to guard the country. I will say they had about 8,000 men total. Then there were probably about the same number of women, maybe more since they don't fight in battles, etc. So maybe 8,500 women. That's 16,500 people. Plus the children and the elderly, which would probably be slightly less than the totals of men and women. I'd say you are probably looking at a few more than 20,000 people in Rohan, which really isn't all that much.

Gil Galad · 04-13-2004, 02:19 PM

Give or take 1,000. I agree with Lord of Angmar. Proably about the same as the middles ages, before the plague. Give or take.

Lady Snickerdoodle · 04-13-2004, 06:43 PM

I don't think orcs would count because it would be kind of hard to find them all, and even then, they're supposed to have multiplied beyond number or whatever the quote was. *shudders*

Gil Galad · 04-13-2004, 06:51 PM

That is a very discomforting thought Lady S.

04-13-2004, 01:35 PM	#1
Lady Snickerdoodle Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: in the cookie jar Posts: 256	Middle Earth Census A random thought, but if one were to conduct a census of all the, um, beings in Middle Earth, what would the final count be, about? LIke the number of elves, men, hobbits, dwarves and such. And how would one go about doing it? Another thought, it seems like the main habitations of ME are the Shire, Rivendell, Gondor and Rohan. And nowhere else mentionable. Just remarking. __________________ "Let me handle this, I'm British." ~hitchhikers guide

04-13-2004, 01:49 PM	#2
Gil Galad Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hmm... good question.... Posts: 58	Yes, an interesting thought. There'd probably be about.... hmm I don't know. __________________ A red sun rises... blood has been spilt this night.- Legolas TTT Certainty of death, small chance of success... what are we waiting for?- Gimli ROTK

04-13-2004, 01:52 PM	#3
Lord of Angmar Tyrannus Incorporalis Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: the North Posts: 833	As far as I know, it would be impossible to estimate the total number of all people of various races of Middle-earth at any one point in time, especially if you were to include the Hither Lands. Perhaps it would be roughly similar to the population size of mediaeval Europe before the plague. There are certainly a few more nations and lands in Middle-earth than the ones you mentioned. Mirkwood, Bree, Lothlorien, Dale, Harad and Mordor, to name a few. Do orcs and Nazgul count as "beings"? __________________ ...where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defence.

04-13-2004, 02:06 PM	#4
Gil Galad Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hmm... good question.... Posts: 58	I wouldn't count Nazgul, we know how many of them there are in middle earth. Orcs, maybe, if you can survive long enough to count them all __________________ A red sun rises... blood has been spilt this night.- Legolas TTT Certainty of death, small chance of success... what are we waiting for?- Gimli ROTK

04-13-2004, 02:19 PM	#6
Gil Galad Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hmm... good question.... Posts: 58	Give or take 1,000. I agree with Lord of Angmar. Proably about the same as the middles ages, before the plague. Give or take. __________________ A red sun rises... blood has been spilt this night.- Legolas TTT Certainty of death, small chance of success... what are we waiting for?- Gimli ROTK

04-13-2004, 02:08 PM	#5
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	I don't think it would be impossible. Extraordinarily difficult, yes. Impossible, no. Some places would be easier than others. The Shire probably wouldn't be all that hard. Someplace such as Gondor where all the people are spread out would be more difficult. Another place worth mentioning would be the area of the Grey Havens. There were quite a few Elves living there still. As for estimating, I will use Rohan as an example. At the time of the WotR, they sent about 6,000 men to Gondor and still had some left to guard the country. I will say they had about 8,000 men total. Then there were probably about the same number of women, maybe more since they don't fight in battles, etc. So maybe 8,500 women. That's 16,500 people. Plus the children and the elderly, which would probably be slightly less than the totals of men and women. I'd say you are probably looking at a few more than 20,000 people in Rohan, which really isn't all that much.

04-13-2004, 06:43 PM	#7
Lady Snickerdoodle Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: in the cookie jar Posts: 256	I don't think orcs would count because it would be kind of hard to find them all, and even then, they're supposed to have multiplied beyond number or whatever the quote was. shudders __________________ "Let me handle this, I'm British." ~hitchhikers guide

04-13-2004, 06:51 PM	#8
Gil Galad Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hmm... good question.... Posts: 58	That is a very discomforting thought Lady S. __________________ A red sun rises... blood has been spilt this night.- Legolas TTT Certainty of death, small chance of success... what are we waiting for?- Gimli ROTK