soldiers available in ME

[Kuruharan]

So to me your statement makes no sense, because if what you were saying is so then the Elves should be much weaker than the Dwarves.
So why are you puzzled? obviously, the Iron Hills had a military superiority over the Elves.

Before this comes to a bashing of me and my statements, I encourage you to re-read what I said, specifically…

Just because it was "most" capable doesn't equal "very" capable.

…and…

the Woodland Realm…but perhaps they would have been taken up by Dol Guldur

Next, I encourage you to go read the essay “Of Dwarves and Men” and note what it says about the Iron Hills being on the periphery of the Longbeard’s empire.

around half of Durin's folk lived there, since most of those that survived Smaug went to the Iron Hills, except for those led by Thror, and those who still dwelt in the Ered Mithrin and elsewhere.

Another thing I find puzzling is where you found where it said that half the dwarves lived there.

I haven't seen anywhere in Tolkiens works (which I haven't read all of yet) so far, that says that the Dwarves were very few.

I also encourage you to re-read Of Durin’s Folk where the low birthrate and the following low population are explained. Also note where the dwarves are described as being a declining race in the Third Age.

Lastly, you wondered why I calculated the Iron Hills army at 8-10,000. Well I did it out of studying military patterns from real life and from the books. From them I figured if Durin's folk had an average population of 1,000,000 people throughout the the mid to late third age, and you broke it up I figured that the Iron Hills after Smaug was around 2-300,000 people and later around 3-500,000 (I will retract my calculation of 600,000). While Thorin had around 2-400,000 people in the Ered Luin (after his fathers capture) since his population was growing from the wandering Durin's folk . And of course we can't orget those wanderers and colonies in the Ered Mithrin and elsewhere which may have been in the tens of thousands.
So if the Iron Hills had from 1 to 5 percent of it men in the military it would come out to 5-10,000. For these are the percentages most militarys come from in almost every country on earth.

I hope this answers your questions and I'm sorry if my figures are proposterous to you and anyone else. I'm was just trying to think figuratively and logically.

Ahem…yes well, I’ll just say that I’m not sure you are viewing the dwarven population in entirely appropriate terms regarding where their soldiers came from. I was always rather under the impression that pretty much all male dwarves fought.

[Rumil]

Very very tricksy question for a number of reasons.....

JRRT rarely mentions concrete numbers and if one follows the 'translator conceit' characters might estimate numbers unreliably, except Ghan-buri-Ghan of course.

Middle Earth population density appears to be bizarrely low (see Michael Martinez ) on the other hand, if you happen to be, for example, a peasant of Rohan, you have no option but to become a soldier if the orcs attack. You get the impression that in Medieval or Dark Age times the majority of the population was sensibly uninvolved and uninterested in fighting, for example the English at the battle of Hastings had about 8000 men out of an estimated population of at least 1 million. The likelihood of being eaten by one's opponents would surely ensure greater motivation?

Saying that I shall have a go at a few guesses and comments, based on goldfinger's list


Gondor: 28,000-30,000.

Probably not far out, Bergil or someone critcises the allies for sending about 3000 to Minas Tirith, which is reckoned 'a tithe' of their strength, but is probably exaggerating, so adding in the Minas Tirith forces would bring us back to about this number.

Rohan: 12,000.

There's a reference in HoME to Rohan having 10,000 well armed cavalry and 10,000 infantry and men on ponies (mounted infantry?), so I'd say 20-22,000. The 12,000 refers to the cavalry establishment of Rohan before the War of the Ring and losses at the Fords of the Isen and Helm's Deep.

Elves of Mirkwood: 3-4,000.

Seems logical, guessimated at battle of 5 armies at about 2500, but Thranduil must have left some people at home.

Lorien: 2-3,000.

Gut feeling says a few more than this, on the order of 4-5000, don't know why!

Kingdom of Dale: 3-6,000.

Tricky one, presumably this would include Esgaroth? I'd go for the lower end, say 3000 as they were re-establishing after much destruction etc.

Dwarves of the Iron Hills: 8-10,000.

Following, or in spite of!? the previous comments, I think there are far fewer Dwarves left. They had suffered badly at Nanduhirion and Erebor and multiplied only slowly. Perhaps 2000?

Dwarves of Erebor: 4-6,000.

Again I'd go for a lesser number, perhaps 2000?

Lindon: 2-5,000

Probably lower end again, they will keep on sailing away these elves! Also includes maybe a couple of hundred at Rivendell.

Other places..

The Shire, Bree - lots and lots of hobbits, the question is how 'soldierlike' they were!

Beornings and Woodmen - not very many, maybe 1500 at most?


Evil

Mordor: 100-200,000

At least

Rhun: 14-25,000

Difficult to guess, I wonder what proportion of the Easterlings Sauron deployed to the West?

Harad: 30-40,000

Probably more, including the Corsairs and whoever was left back at Umbar

Khand: 15-20,000

Probably less, doesn't seem like a very fertile sort of place

Goblins of the Misty Mts: 6-10,000

Seems OK

Dol Guldur: 8-10,000

Probably more, it was reoccupied with 'sevenfold strength' before the War of the Ring, maybe 20-30,000

Other places....

Isengard - about 15-20,000 (10,000 orcs are mentioned by Gandalf but there are Dunlendings etc to consider and by Helm's Deep there have been many losses, however Merry and Pippin give 10,000 in all so someone is mistaken here!).

So for the 'good guys' at least I'd go for a very low population but a very high proportion of military service, at least when necessary. For example in Minas Tirith all the men were expected to stay and defend the city. Only a small minority could have been career soldiers, otherwise the economy would have collapsed, but most must have formed some sort of 'citizen militia'.

Anyway thats my pennysworth, I'm off to get some chips