Skyrim population estimates

[Ralof Games]

Inspired by: https://www.reddit.com/r/teslore/comments/b90frh/skyrim_demographics_my_estimations/


Note: I have a theory that the settlements in game are the most populated settlements. At the beginning of the game, it was said "near darkwater crossing" was where ulfric got captured, meaning that its probally a more populated location in the area. (note that the settlements shown are only the settlements in game, and many other settlements exist in lore.) (Also note the remaining population is settlements not listed in the actual game.)

SKYRIM OVERALL POPULATION: 1,575,000 (solstheim is not included)

Haafingar: 245,000

Solitude: 135,000
In city: 134,400
At the docks: 600

Smaller settlements:
Dragon Bridge: 2,500
Thalmor Embassy: 210
Castle Volkihar: 130
Fort Hraggstad: 120
Northwatch Keep: 50
Katla's Farm: 30

Hjallmarch: 95,000

Morthal: 40,000

Smaller settlements:
Stonehills: 1,300
Fort Snowhawk: 80

The Reach: 210,000

Markarth: 95,000
In city: 94,850
At stables: 150

Smaller settlements:
Karthwasten: 2,800
Old Hroldan: 1,600
Dushnikh Yal: 295
Mor Khazgur: 175
Fort Sungard: 60
Kolskeggr Mine: 50
Left Hand Mine: 40

Falkreath Hold: 165,000

Falkreath: 55,000

Smaller Settlements:
Helgen: 2,800
Fort Neugrad: 110
Half-Moon Mill: 90
Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary: 60

Whiterun Hold: 275,000

Whiterun: 115,000
In city: 110,000
Outside city 5,000

Smaller Settlements:
Rorikstead: 4,200
Riverwood: 2,900
Honningbrew Meadery: 280
Fort Greymoor: 120
Whitewatch Tower: 25
Western Watchtower: 20
High Hrothgar: 4 (5 if including paarthurnax).

The Pale: 105,000

Dawnstar: 50,000

Smaller settlements:
Fort Dunstad: 70
Anga's Mill: 50
Nightgate: 30
Loreius Farm: 5

Winterhold (hold): 25,000

Winterhold: 1,200 (collapse)

College of winterhold: 90

Minor Settlements:
Fort Kastav: 95
Whistling Mine: 40
Fort Fellhammer: 30


Eastmarch: 250,000

Windhelm: 220,000
In city: 219,300
Docks: 700 (argonians)

Smaller Settlements:
Darkwater Crossing: 1,800
Kynesgrove: 1,600
Mixwater: 400
Narzulbur: 210
Fort Amol: 120

The Rift: 225,000

Riften: 105,000
In Riften City: 104,600
At Riften Docs: 400

Smaller settlements:
Ivarstead: 2,200
Shor's Stone: 2,100
Largashbur: 300
Fort Dawnguard: 150
Goldenglow Estate: 80
Fort Hraggstad: 70
Black Briar Lodge: 35
Largashbur: 30 (because they can barely even stay alive)

Solstheim: 110,000

Raven Rock: 35,000
Skaal Village: 850
Tel Mithryn: 200
Thirsk Mead Hall: 120

Bonus:

Estimates of other Providences populations:

High Rock: 3.3 Million
Skyrim: 1.5 Million
Morrowind: 1.4 million (3.7 million in the third era)
Hammerfell: 2.6 Million
Cyrodill: 5.3 Million
Alinor/Summerset: 4.3 Million
Valenwood: 1.8 Million
Elsweyr: 2.2 Million
Argonia/Black March/Saxhleel: 1.5 million (roughly the same as skyrim)

Most Populated cities on tamriel (estimate):

3. Daggerfall: 265,000
2. Alinor: 325,000
1. Imperial City: 380,000

[Docsprock]

I don't think there are quite that many. Like Shor's Stone actually has 8.

[alexander_dougherty]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

I don't think there are quite that many. Like Shor's Stone actually has 8.

Some of the numbers are quite high, but the point is the populations according to the lore, not according to the game. No settlement would have a population as low as eight, since they would be wiped out by wolves or bandits.

[Rez Elwin]

Some of these number seem way too high.
I cannot fathom the Embassy Building even Holding 1100 bodies inside it let alone any reason for have that many members in Skyrim. While the structure is probably bigger than seen in game, that seems way too extreme.

Another is the College, 2100 is an absolutely absurd number of mages. With the distrust of magic, and the college in general I cannot see it having anywhere near that many members. Being generous I would say that College would have maybe 100.

All these forts seem grossly overpopulated, especially considering most are bandit controlled, I would only wager small groups of like a dozen max if you talking bandits. However, even IF you're talking about when taken by Soldiers, I don't see several hundreds of troops living at these forts. I'd give a rough estimate of like 40 max at any given fort.

I can guarantee you there are not 900 residents at Castle Volkiar. If Harkon had even close to that amount of Vampires at his disposal, they would have no problem dealing with the Dawnguard, even given the numbers you propose, they are outnumbered over 8-1

There are way too many people at the mines, the docks, the minor settlements and I don't think the Orc strongholds are nearly that big either.

Skaal Village, no, not even close.
Same for Thrisk, it is literally one mead hall.
Neloth would go insane if he had to deal with that many people.

[Altbert]

Sure, with the current size of the game map it would never be possible. The size of the map is 125 z 127 cells. Each cell measures 4096 x 4096 ingame units, which are supposed to be 192 x 192 ft or 58.5 x 58.5 meters. So, the total map, including ocean an other water would be 24000 x 24384 ft or 7312.5 x 7429.5 meters. That would be a surface of about 1.500 km2, which may hold about 1.3 million citizens. Those map sizes were not possible in those days!

[Ralof Games]

Information got updated!

[FauxFurry]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

I don't think there are quite that many. Like Shor's Stone actually has 8.

Settlements in video games have rarely been set to lore accurate scale but the increased graphical fidelity that games of the last 20 years are capable of have the potential of misleading the audience about issues of scale more than ever before.
Perhaps the primary focus of the future titles (other than presenting a coherent plot set up) should be increasing the size and number of cities rather than adding more empty planets which are also not up to scale? Making smart use of procedural generation as was done in TES 1 & 2 would certainly help.

[theo]

Random fact. In tes 1 arena the distance between Riverwood and Whiterun was more than 300 kilometers, with many settlements between them. They themselves were much larger than in tes 5 of course, where even largest cities are pathetic in game and can barely be considered functional villages

[alexander_dougherty]

Tel Mithryn literally has Neloth, his apprentice, his steward and his apothecary, he doesn't want any more. If it had more than four people, he wouldn't tell you to find him a new steward.

[alexander_dougherty]

Some of the other estimates are still off as well, The Embassy for example would have under a hundred people, otherwise it is an outpost not an embassy.