population · n
population (PEOPLE)
B2 all the people living in a particular area, or all the people or animals of a particular type
Dictionary examples:
The dolphin population has been seriously affected by tuna fishing. (35.2)
a 9% rise in the prison population (38.4)
population (NUMBER)
B1 the number of people living in a particular area
Dictionary examples:
The population of typos in my essay seems to be breeding overnight. (0.0)
The population of penguins in my bathtub is growing alarmingly fast! (0.0)
The population of chocolate bars in my desk drawer keeps mysteriously shrinking. (0.0)
What's the population of Brazil? (17.9)
a growing/shrinking population (33.6)