What was the total human population in 2000 BC?

 

What was the total human population in 2000 BC?

We only have data about the total human population for the 2–3 last centuries. Further back we only get estimates. These vary a bit but they do give us an idea and it seems that there were some tens of millions of humans around the world back in 2000 BC. Take a look on the estimates:

Two of them agree that the world population was 27M but HYDE is a more recent, and I suppose using more improved methodology, giving 72M. While we don’t get a number for PRB in this picture it’s obvious that it gives 100M since it gives this number both for 3000 BC and 1000 BC. Maddison starts giving estimates from 1 AD onwards but its numbers are higher than Gapminder and McEvedy-Jones so it’s safe to assume Gapminder and McEvedy-Jones give quite low estimates more recent estimates give higher. Thus, I’d say the world population from 2000 BC should be in the high tens of millions, like 80–90 million people, closer to 100M rather than the low tens.