What is Bethlehem's population?

Answer 1

The population of Bethlehem was very crowded as Joseph found no place in any inn.

Answer:

That's what Augustus Caesar wanted to know:

"About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the nation... Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for his registration. And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David's ancient home -- journeying from the Galilean village of Nazareth. He took with him Mary, his fianc'eae, who was obviously pregnant by this time." (Luke 2:1-5 LVB Living Bible)

The Bible doesn't disclose the result of Caesar's census, however... but the crowded conditions in Bethlehem [and many other towns throughout Judaea] was the result of Caesar taking advantage of the Jew's observance of the Holy Day "Feast of Tabernacles" [the true and actual time of Jesus' birth; as revealed through the study of the timing of John the Baptist's birth; when Mary became pregnant during the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy - verse 36 - see Luke chapter 1: which would have placed Jesus' conception, and Elisabeth's sixth month, around our month of December].

Rather than risking a rebellion among the Jews by ordering such an inconvenient mass migration for the sake of the census... Caesar knew that many of the Jews would have been heading, usually, toward Jerusalem for these seven days, anyway. Having them merely go to their ancestral homes instead of Jerusalem would have been a minor inconvenience upon them.

In the observance of this annual feast, the people of God dwelt in some form of "temporary quarters" [tents or inns, as Joseph tried to do... but the inn and the town was filled beyond capacity]. Many Jews resided on their rooftops [a practice still used in Jerusalem by many, even today] for this seven-day period, as the instructions for the observance of the feast command.

"This seven-day annual feast is a law from generation to generation. During those seven days, all of you who are native Israelites are to live in these shelters."

(Lev.23:41-42 LVB)

However, the result of Caesar's census wasn't pertinent to God's inspired account... and The Bible doesn't disclose the number of the population of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth.

Answer 2

The population of Bethlehem is 25,266.