D&D (2024) Sword Coast population data from 2024 D&D Pocket Expert

[AK_Ambrian]

This recent book (a WOTC official licensed product) lists the number of people living in these locations:

Baldur's Gate: 125,000

Candlekeep: 500

Gauntlgrym: 10,000 - 15,000

Icewind Dale: 4,200

Luskan: 5,000

Menzoberranzan: 20,000+

Mithral Hall: 5,000

Neverwinter: 23,000

Phandalin: 500

Waterdeep: 2,000,000+

I'm a bit surprised at how few people live in Luskan and Neverwinter, I'd always imagined them as bigger cities. And Menzoberranzan has more people than I expected.

 

[pukunui]

Huh! I wonder if we’ll get population numbers in the upcoming FR campaign books. Previously with 5e, they’ve mostly shied away from any kind of demographics. This is something I’ve missed from previous editions.

Neverwinter’s population is undoubtedly lower than it used to be because of the recent volcanic eruption that left much of the city in ruins. The population will be on the rise now, though.

I’m surprised by the size of Gauntlgrym’s population. I would’ve though that would be much lower.

 

[AK_Ambrian]

Previously with 5e, they’ve mostly shied away from any kind of demographics. This is something I’ve missed from previous editions.

I did check the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide and it doesn't mention many numbers although it does say that Baldur's Gate is "home to tens of thousands". From that to well over a hundred thousand is quite a big change.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Population of Luskan seems too low, given the area covered by the maps, and the scale of the architecture. Large villages / tiny towns do not have huge stone bridges spanning multiple islands. 20k would be a more reasonable figure.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Actually, compared to the 3e FRCS figures, Neverwinter is exactly the same at 23k, Luskan significantly lower (3e 14k), and Waterdeep significantly higher (3e 1.3 million)

Icewind Dale is smaller (3e 10k), as is Menzoberranzan (3e 32k), but Baldur's Gate is much, much bigger (3e 42k).

Remember that it's been well over a century and two planet-wide cataclysms since the date the 3e FRCS was set in. Most seem reasonable given the events and time passed (Baldur's Gate, for example, has been specifically called out in products as having grown significantly from refugees, for example), but i do agree that Luskan probably should have around 10k more people at least. Unless there's been some recent local catastrophe as yet unrevealed.

And I do wonder if the new setting guides will follow the 3e FRCS and give exact populations. There have been hints here and there that they might be using it as their model.

 

[Hussar]

2 million plus for Waterdeep is simply wrong.

 

[GreyLord]

Actually, compared to the 3e FRCS figures, Neverwinter is exactly the same at 23k, Luskan significantly lower (3e 14k), and Waterdeep significantly higher (3e 1.3 million)

Icewind Dale is smaller (3e 10k), as is Menzoberranzan (3e 32k), but Baldur's Gate is much, much bigger (3e 42k).

Remember that it's been well over a century and two planet-wide cataclysms since the date the 3e FRCS was set in. Most seem reasonable given the events and time passed (Baldur's Gate, for example, has been specifically called out in products as having grown significantly from refugees, for example), but i do agree that Luskan probably should have around 10k more people at least. Unless there's been some recent local catastrophe as yet unrevealed.

And I do wonder if the new setting guides will follow the 3e FRCS and give exact populations. There have been hints here and there that they might be using it as their model.

Just like elsewhere, people moving from the country to the big city....

 

[Selas]

2 million plus for Waterdeep is simply wrong.

They count the surrounding areas outside the city itself. Calimport does the same

 

[TiQuinn]

Basically Waterdeep is Fantasy Chicago.

 

[sevenbastard]

Waterdeep: 2,000,000+

That's crazy big. Idaho only has 2 million people. And ancient Rome was never that big. I get that the realms is more 19th century than it is medieval, but that's just huge.

The rural population in the Sword Coast most be massive to feed all the cities.