/ ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn; NAmE ˌpɑːp-/ noun
1.
[ C +sing./pl. v . , U ] all the people who live in a particular area, city or country; the total number of people who live there :
One third of the world's population consumes / consume two thirds of the world's resources.
The entire population of the town was at the meeting.
countries with ageing populations
Muslims make up 55% of the population.
an increase in population
areas of dense / sparse population (= where many / not many people live)
The population is increasing at about 6% per year.
Nigeria has a population of nearly 100 million.
2.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a particular group of people or animals living in a particular area :
the adult / working / rural, etc. population of the country
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (denoting an inhabited place): from late Latin populatio(n-) , from the verb populare , from populus people.