Fermi question · Geography
About how many people lived in New York City in the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate?
Make a fast, defensible estimate before you reveal the reference answer. Think in factors, not exact recall.
What is your estimate?
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Reference answer
Reveal the reference answer
≈ 8.58 million people
Fermi estimates are judged by scale, so a reasonable approximation can still earn a strong score.
One way to estimate it
Use known borough-scale populations or compare NYC with other U.S. megacities.
- Brooklyn + Queens≈ 5 million
- Manhattan + Bronx + Staten Island≈ 3.5 million
- Estimate≈ 8.5M people
Keep practicing
Try another question, or return to the daily challenge to build your personal sense of scale.