questions of population in the silmarillion

[carlrodd]

i just read the silmarillion again and realised that tolkien rarely ever gives insight into the population of certain races or important groups. here and there specific numbers are mentioned in battles, but never in regard to population. only ever does he make oblique references, such as 'a great host', or 'few remained', or 'countless' etc. does anyone know of any reference material in his or christopher tolkien's published works that specifically comments on population? also, i would be really interested in hearing anyone's personal theories and ideas concerning population. i have three questions of population that i am specifically interested in: the number of faithful that escaped the destruction of numenor. akalabeth says nine ships i think. that does not sound like a significant number of people. i know there were already numerous numenorean settlements in NW middle earth at the time, and the faithful being of royal lineage were probably rulers of lesser or mixed peoples. secondly, i wonder about the number of the last alliance of men and elves. akalabeth states that the last alliance was greater than any force that had been previously gathered, with the exception of when the valar joined with men and elves to vanquish morgoth. lastly, i wonder about the population of lothlorien during the 'great years'. any comments would be greatly appreciated.