The Khoikhoi Population, 1652-1780: A Review of the Evidence and Two New Estimates

Abstract

Fourie and Green construct estimates of the Khoikhoi population over the 1652-1780 period using benchmarks for the initial and terminal Khoi populations and benchmarks for the punctuated population declines from smallpox epidemics in 1713 and 1755. I review the evidence underlying each of the four population benchmarks. For population benchmarks to be comparable, they need to compare the same populations over the same geographic areas. Since the 1652 benchmark is for the Khoi population and the 1780 benchmark is for the Khoi and San populations, the 1780 benchmark is revised to include just the Khoi population. Qualitative evidence also points to a higher rate of population decline between 1652 and 1723 and a smaller rate of decline between 1723 and 1780. Using the Fourie- Green methodology and adopting 3 of their 4 population benchmarks, I develop two revised estimates of the Khoi population to supplement the original Fourie-Green estimates.