Population & Demand

Status: Planned Feature - This system is currently in development. This article describes how population mechanics will work when released.

The galaxy isn't just stations and ships - it's full of people. Every station and planet has a population with real needs, and those needs drive the entire economy.

How Population Works

Every inhabited location has a population count that grows or shrinks based on how well their needs are met.

Population Effects:

More population = more demand = more opportunity
Less population = dying markets
Population can migrate to better-supplied locations

The Three Need Categories

Basic Needs (Survival)

These must be met for the population to survive:

Need	What Happens If Missing
Food	Population starves, rapid decline
Water	Population dies, rapid decline
Oxygen	Immediate crisis
Medical Supplies	Disease spreads, moderate decline

If basic needs aren't met: Population shrinks quickly, unrest increases, production stops.

Pro tip: Emergency deliveries of basic needs pay premium prices. A station running low on Water will pay almost anything.

Comfort Needs (Growth)

These enable population growth and increased productivity:

Need	Effect When Met
Consumer Goods	Population grows slowly
Entertainment	Productivity increases
Luxury Items	Rapid growth, high morale

If comfort needs are met: Population grows over days and weeks. More people means more demand - a positive spiral.

Industrial Needs (Production)

These keep the economy running:

Need	Required For
Raw Materials	Tier 1 production
Components	Higher-tier production
Energy/Fuel	All operations

If industrial needs aren't met: Production halts, the station can't make anything.

Population Dynamics

Growth Rate

Population changes are gradual:

Optimal conditions: +0.5% per day
Good conditions: +0.2% per day
Poor conditions: -0.5% per day
Crisis: -2% per day or worse

A station with 10,000 population in optimal conditions adds 50 people per day. Slow, but it compounds.

Migration

People move to better places:

Stations with unmet basic needs lose population to nearby better-supplied stations
New stations attract workers if conditions are good
Major hubs grow faster due to amenities

Population Events

Random events affect populations:

Event	Effect
Epidemic	+200% medical demand, population at risk
Economic Boom	+50% consumer demand, population growth
Migration Wave	Large population shift between stations
Natural Disaster	Infrastructure damage, supply crisis

Events create sudden demand spikes - be ready to respond.

Trading with Population in Mind

Consistent Supply Routes

Populations need steady supply, not occasional deliveries:

Set up regular trade routes to stations
Automated deliveries are more valuable than manual ones
Reliability builds reputation and contracts

Emergency Response

Crisis situations pay premium:

Watch for low stock warnings
Be the first to respond to supply crises
Emergency prices can be 3-5x normal

Growth Markets

Find stations where population is growing:

Growing populations need more of everything
New stations are especially hungry
Supplying growth markets builds long-term relationships

Demand Calculation

Station demand is calculated as:

Daily Demand = Population × Consumption Rate × Modifiers

Modifiers include:

Season/Events (+/- 50%)
Stock levels (low stock = higher prices)
Alternative suppliers (competition lowers prices)

Population Tiers

Different locations have different population scales:

Location Type	Typical Population
Outpost	100 - 1,000
Station	1,000 - 50,000
Large Station	50,000 - 500,000
Planet	1,000,000+

Bigger populations mean bigger markets - but also more competition.

Strategic Considerations

Early Game

Focus on basic needs delivery to small stations. Less competition, reliable profits.

Mid Game

Target growing stations with comfort goods. Build the relationships that pay later.

Late Game

Control the supply chains to major population centers. Influence which stations grow.