Population
Population is a measure of the total population of a certain geographical area. Most often in Warhammer 40,000, population is a measure of an entire planet but can also be a of a hive or small community.[1]
Certain world classes have a tendency towards larger or smaller populations, for example agri worlds tend to have lower populations as they don't have room for vast industrial hives, whereas forge worlds have a much greater population compressed into a smaller space to operate the machinery required to produce the vast amounts of materials and weapons the Imperium needs to survive.[1]
The Imperium will conduct population control methods to increase or decrease the local population of a world as needed. For example, they may introduce anaphrodisiacs into the food and water supply, ostensibly to discourage population growth. To encourage population growth, the Departmento Munitorum may issue out breeding licenses as part of an overall edict.[2]
"Edict Departmento Munitorum: to all registered insula keepers. For the period of this Edict, connubial encouters are encouraged. Also, to all Imperial storehouse overseers. For the period of this Edict, anaphrodisiac dosages are to be eliminated from both the food and water supply."
