Odd fact about Harry Potter (no spoilers)

[kay1864]

The dorm room Harry sleeps in with the five beds? That's all the Gryffindor boys in Harry's year. Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.

Ergo, only 35-40 boys in all of Gryffindor (and 35-40 girls).

And only about 20 boys and 20 girls in each First Year class.

So 40 wizards and witches each year, out of a Muggle student population of about 700 thousand (est.).

[LostinVA]

1. There has to be more than that

The Great Hall is filled with kids.

[kay1864]

3. Only in the movies

And even so, 280 kids in one room is a big crowd.

[El Fuego]

9. Hey, maybe it's a commuter school, like a local college.

Most of the kids live at home and they fly in on the broomsticks. Or they Apparate.

[kay1864]

10. Can't apparate into Hogwarts

Can't fly in on broomsticks either--you have to go through the front gates.

Either way, I'm guessing 11-17 year olds (even wizards and witches) are required to stay "on campus".

[AllegroRondo]

2. I dont think she ever said they were the only 5 that year

that leaves room for more unnamed students.

but at 40 students a year, and 7 years of school, the total student population would be around 280. which does seem a little short.

[kay1864]

4. Per Wikipedia:

Rowling's list confirms that Harry's year, at least, is not larger than, at best, 42.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_in_Harry_Potter%27s_year

Which means about 10 students per house in Harry's year.

It wouldn't make sense to put an extra boy somewhere else.

[AllegroRondo]

5. wow, I hadnt seen that before

pretty neat!

[kay1864]

6. I was pretty amazed too

When I read that awhile back, and did the math. I just assumed there were about 20 other Gryffindor boys about Harry's age, until I read that.

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. The classes after Harry's may be larger.

There may have been a population increase after Voldemort was defeated the first time. But Harry's year was probably not a good time to have kids. I imagine the classes ahead and after Harry's were larger.

[kay1864]

8. ...

There may have been a population increase after Voldemort was defeated the first time.

You mean 17 years ago?

And please be careful not to make any references to the 7th book. This thread is labeled non-spoiler.