The Population of Magical UK

More stuff developed as world-building for The One He Feared.

The Demographics of Magical Britain, With a Focus on Economy
Canon Status
This document has been prepared to help inform the fanfiction story The One He F
eared, which takes place in a canon-like world. This means that the story tries
to not contradict canon (so far there is just one contradiction, which is the da
te of the creation of the ICW), and that extensions to the story universe try to
maintain the tone of JKR s world. As such the content of this document is not app
licable to my other stories like Alexandra Potter, which takes place in a modera
tely significant AU (though some world-building between the two stories is share
d).
A Note on Dates
All information in this document is about the state of the world in 1997, unless
otherwise stated.
Global and Political Context
The political entity magical Britain is a unitary magical state which has jurisdic
tion over the territories of England, Scotland, and Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is more correctly called the magical United Kingdom, but that s a bit wordy. Bri
tain and United Kingdom will therefore be used interchangeably.
The total population of Britain is around 60 million.
Britain is one of a group of countries considered highly magical -- i.e. having
a significant magical population. Magical demographers have considered several r
easons for this, the most popular theory being that Britain (and Western Europe
more generally) sits in a highly magical geographical area, as exhibited by the
wide range of magical animals and plants on the isles.. Other theories are that
the high magical population in Britain has a human cause: that the highly develo
ped state of magical education and activity in Britain itself engenders a higher
rate of magical births. A third cause may be the consistently high rate of magi
cal immigration to Britain, especially high during the late 18th, 19th and early
20th centuries.
Whatever the cause, Britain s magical population is consistently high, with a high
rate of Muggleborn births.
Other highly magical countries include: Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, Germany,
Egypt, China, Japan, Peru, Transylvania and Ethiopia. Other nations may have wi
thin their borders highly magical areas, such as India, the United States, and p
arts of Central America. However, these nations also include areas of relative m
agical drought.
Deriving a Magical Population Figure for Britain
The life expectancy of a magical person is 170 years.
An average year at Hogwarts consists of 40 students.
90% of the population attend Hogwarts (the remaining 10% either refusing entry,
unable to afford entry and not qualifying for assistance, or seeking alternative
education such as home tuition, apprenticeships or foreign schools).
There are therefore around 45 magical children born each year, each one of whom
will live an average of 170 years.
The total magical population of Britain is therefore around 7650.
(The Quidditch World Cup is a truly global event with a very high percentage of
the entire world s magical population attending).
The magical population of Britain thus constitutes around 0.00013% of the total
population of Britain.
There are around 325,000 wizards and witches in the world. Britain has just unde
r 2% of the world s magical population. In contrast, it has around 1% of the world s
total population.
Geographical Distribution
A good proportion of the magical population lives in the all-magical village of
Hogsmeade in Scotland, where around 2000 magical people live. This is the locati
on in Britain with the highest density of magical people, especially with Hogwar
ts nearby. Hogwarts itself is home to around 300 people for most of the year.
London has the greatest number of magical people living within its borders: arou
nd 2500. They are mostly clustered near to Diagon Alley.
Another 1000 wizards can be found in other urban areas around Britain.
The remaining 2000 wizards and witches are scattered around Britain in rural com
munities, often living near to but not within the borders of small towns and vil
lages.
Economic Distribution
Children
Children come of age at age 17, but will typically leave education at age 18 (tu
rning 18 during their 7th year at Hogwarts).
Total: 810 (around 10% of the population)
Retirees
Wizards typically retire at age 145 (at which time they physically resemble a Mu
ggle of 65 years, the conversation factor being magical age * 0.45 = muggle age)
, giving them an average retirement of 25 years.
Total: 1125 (around 14% of the population)
Quidditch
There are 18 Quidditch teams in Britain (Irish teams also compete in the British
league but are not counted here as they are part of the population of Ireland).
Each team has 7 players, plus a coach or two, plus several reserve players. On t
op of this they will have a member of administrative staff, and someone to take
care of their stadium/grounds. The average number of people involved in a given
Quidditch team is thus around 15 people.
Total: 270
Hogwarts
Hogwarts typically offers 13 classes (including flying) at any given time. Each
subject has one teacher. There is also a headmaster, a groundskeeper, a nurse an
d a caretaker. Additional teachers may also be added to the staff for the teachi
ng of other subjects, subject to demand.
Total: 18.
Retail, Hospitality and Services
There are no corporations, or any other form of limited liability business in wi
zarding Britain: all businesses are sole traders or partnerships with full liabi
lity. There is no stock market. Most shops produce the items they sell themselve
s, but not all.
There are two main shopping districts in wizarding Britain: London and Hogsmeade
.
London is the largest, consisting of around 75 businesses, divided between Diago
n Alley and Knockturn Alley.
Hogsmeade is home to around 25 businesses.
There are some other businesses located around the country in tucked away within
Muggle communities. These number around 5.
While there is significant variation in staff numbers, on average each business
will have one owner/manager, two assistants and two craftspeople of some kind.
Examples of businesses: clothes, apothecaries, potions, grocers, brooms, station
ery, bookshops, pets, construction services including protective charms, legal s
ervices, pubs and restaurants, inns and hotels, brooms, domestic and internation
al travel agents, entertainment, luxury goods, furniture, specialised magical in
struments and equipment, antiques, wands, gardening, music, jewellery and other
accessories.
Total: 525
Industry and Creative
Industry refers to the production of goods for sale, when the goods produced are
not sold directly to the consumer by the business (in which case the business i
s counted under retail). Creative refers to writers, artists, etc.
Broom makers: Britain is a world leader in broom design and production. There ar
e four main companies: Nimbus, Firebolt, Cleansweep and Comet. Each will have an
owner, two sales staff, two designers and five enchanters. There are also a few
other, smaller companies. Industry estimate: 50 people.
Publishing: Britain has two newspapers, around 7 monthly magazines, and two book
publishers. Each will have editors and contributing writers, as well as adminis
trative staff and those who work the press and distribution. Industry staff: 45.
Full-time writers: 25. (Most writers will have other jobs). Total: 70 people.
Other British industries (people):
Parchment (10), Other Stationary (5), Textiles (5), Branded Food (10), Furniture
(3), Muggle Import Services (5), silversmiths (10), other creation of enchanted
objects e.g. photography equipment (120). Other creative e.g. portrait makers,
musicians (100).
Total: 300
Agriculture
Agriculture refers here to all businesses which grow or otherwise acquire raw ma
terials.
Arable farming. Magical farming methods are extremely efficient, especially when
it comes to crops. The entire wizarding population is serviced by three relativ
ely small farms, each staffed by no more than 5 people. Total: 15.
Livestock farming. Livestock farming isn t quite as efficient as crops, but magic
still increases production dramatically. There are eight livestock farms owned b
y magical people in Britain, each one with around 8 employees. Total: 60.
Magical animals. Magical animals are used as pets, guardians, and as potions ing
redients. There are around 70 species of magical animal native to the UK, and of
those most are farmed, some of them by multiple farms. There are therefore arou
nd 85 magical breeders in Britain, though each one has only around 3 staff (much
smaller animal populations than animals for food consumption). Total: 225.
Magical plants. Magical plants are both grown in greenhouses and harvested from
the wild. There are a number of large greenhouses in the UK, around 20. Each one
has around 5 members of staff. There are also around 10 smaller, more specialis
t herbologists working alone. Total: 110.
Other materials demanded by the magical population, such as certain metals, chem
icals, and other substances (e.g. sea salt from a particular region). Total: 20
people.
Merchants. Merchants conduct international trade in food, animals, plants and ot
her materials. Total: 10.
Total: 440
Healthcare
St. Mungo s Hospital is the only public magical hospital in Britain, funded by the
Ministry of Magic and private donors. 25 healers, 40 mediwitches, 10 administra
tive staff, 5 apprentice healers. Total: 80.
Other healthcare includes private healers and alternative healthcare. 10 people.
Total: 90.
Finance
Most finance in Britain is handled by the goblins, who are not included in this
summary of witches and wizards. However, some wizards and witches do get involve
d in finance, generally working for the goblins. 25 people.
Tourism
Britain is home to a number of historically interesting sites, and has a few mus
eums.
Total: 17 people.
Communications
Owl offices: 30 people.
Wizarding radio: 3 channels, 15 presenters per channel. 50 people total.
Total: 80 people.
Non-Ministry Public
NGOs like the Knight Bus, various institutes, think tanks, charities etc.
Total: 100.
Idle Rich
Those who do not work, generally due to inherited wealth. Typically landed, may
own parts of Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, wizarding agriculture. Not including child
ren, who are already counted above.
Total: 80.
Unemployed Poor
Those unable or unwilling to find work, who are not independently wealthy.
Total: 150.
Unemployed Homemakers
Housewives/husbands who do not work at all.
Total: 500.
Criminals
Inhabitants of Azkaban.
Total: 150.
Unaccounted
Those who slipped through the census. Abroad, in hiding, in transit at the time
of the census, etc.
Total: 50.
Ministry of Magic
The Ministry of Magic is by far the largest employer in magical Britain, employi
ng around 2800 wizards and witches. A great part of its functions relate to keep
ing the wizarding world secret and safe, but it also regulates most areas of mag
ical life.
Minister s Office: 50
Undersecretaries (5), advisors (25), administrators (10), press secretaries (10)
.
Department of Magical Law Enforcement: 350
Aurors (35), Hitwizards (70), Improper Use of Magic (70), Wizengamot Administrat
ion Services (80), Other Offices and Admin (95).
Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes: 800
Reversal Squad (100), Obliviators (150), Muggle Liaison Office (400), Excuse Com
mittee (50), Invisibility Taskforce (100)
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures: 400
Department of International Magical Cooperation: 400
Department of Magical Transportation: 150
Department of Magical Games and Sports: 80
Department of Mysteries: 50
Treasury: 200
Other Ministry Offices: 200
Career Politicians: 25
Wizengamot: 50
GDP of Magical Britain
1 galleon = 5 pounds sterling.
If we take magical Britain to be economically on the same level as Muggle Britai
n, we can just use Muggle GDP per capita figures to calculate the GDP:
Muggle GDP per capita: 22,000GBP
Conversion to Galleons: G4400
Total magical population: 7650.
GDP of magical Britain: G33,660,000 (~168 million GBP)
There are many reasons why this figure is somewhat unrealistic, however. The wiz
arding world lacks any kind of sophisticated banking or finance system, which ad
ds huge value to the Muggle economy. Moreover, the nature of magic means that ma
gical UK is essentially an unindustrialised country. There s very little division
of labour, and no mass production. The public sector of magical Britain is extre
mely large. International trade is relatively small, as are international capita
l flows. Economies are unspecialised and do not take advantage of competitive ad
vantages.
On the other hand, agricultural employment is very small in magical Britain comp
ared to Muggle Britain, freeing up large parts of the population for skilled lab
our/artisan/craftsperson types of jobs -- these jobs constitute the vast majorit
y of the private sector economy. This is further pronounced by the lack of any l
arge scale mining/refining business. As such the magical economy is not equitabl
e with pre-industrial Muggle economies, which are focused around agriculture. A
very high percentage of magical employment is tertiary sector employment, typica
lly the most lucrative type of employment. Magic has largely automated, made unn
ecessary or significantly reduced labour needs of primary and secondary sector e
mployment.
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