Medieval Europe-Population and Demography

Medieval Europe Population and Demography info, values and graphs. Major medieval cities in Europe. Most populous countries and cities of the Middle Ages.

The population of Europe was stable at a low level in the Early Middle Ages, boomed during the High Middle Ages, reached a stable peak from about 1250-1350 when a number of disasters (Black death, famine,  caused a steep decline, the nature of which historians have debated. Population levels then slowly expanded, gaining momentum in the early 16th century. Majority of people lived in countryside during Middle ages due the mostly agricultural feudal system.

World Demography in History

 

European Population Development
280–400 (Late Antiquity): population decline.
400–1000 (Early Middle Ages): stable at a low level.
1000–1250 (High Middle Ages): population boom and expansion.
1250–1350 (Late Middle Ages): stable at a high level.
1350–1420 (Late Middle Ages): steep decline
1420–1470 (Late Middle Ages): stable at a low level.
1470–onward: slow expansion gaining momentum in the early 16th century.

Medieval England Population

European population between 500AD and 1450AD in Millions

	500	650	1000	1340	1450
Medieval Europe Total	27.5	18	38.5	73.5	50
Greece  / Balkans	5	3	5	6	4.5
Italy	4	2.5	5	10	7.3
Spain / Portugal	4	3.5	7	9	7
South Total	13	9	17	25	19
France	5	3	6	19	12
British Isles	0.5	0.5	2	5	3
Germany  /Scandinavia	3.5	2	4	11.5	7.3
West Total	9	5.5	12	35.5	22.5
Slavia	5	3
Russia			6	8	6
Poland / Lithuania			2	3	2
Hungary	0.5	0.5	1.5	2	1.5
East Total	5.5	3.5	9.5	13	9.3

Major Europen Medieval Cities

Moscow (200 000)
Italian cities: Venice, Genoa, Napoli, Milano, Florence (about 100 000).
Paris (50,000-80,000).
Prague (40-50 000 in 14th century), Prague was one of the largest European city by walls. Prague castle is still the largest worldwide functional castle.
London (35-45 000 before Black Death).
Constantinople had 500 000 habitants in 5-6 century. The population declined during medieval times to 50 000 citizens (at time of Turkish conquest-1453AD).
Rome: Its population declined from more than a million in 210 AD to 500,000 in 4-5th century to 35,000 during the Early Middle Ages.
Next major European cities in Middle Ages: Ghent, Brugge, Frankfurt, Mainz, Rouen, Avignon, Lisboa.

Rome Demography