Estimates vary, but between them they're unlikely to have numbered much over half a million, or 2% of the population, despite a big expansion of the "service nobility" in the previous 150 years.
About three percent of the French population.
The first and second estates was made up 2% of the French population.
The class of nobles was the Second Estate.
Almost 80%
The First Estate or Catholic clergy were about two percent of the population. The Nobles or Second Estate made up about one percent of the population. Everyone else was in the Third Estate.
The French Estates General was made up of three main groups. This first Parliament consisted of the First Estates of clergy, the Second Estate of nobility, and the Third Estate of commoners.
The three Estates were the First Estate which included the Catholic Clergy, the Second Estate which consisted of the French Nobles and the Third Estate which was the commoners who represented 95 to 97% of the population.
The class of nobles was the Second Estate.
Between three and five percent depending on the year.
The Nobles of the Second Estate. it's First estate for a+
Almost 80%
The First Estate or Catholic clergy were about two percent of the population. The Nobles or Second Estate made up about one percent of the population. Everyone else was in the Third Estate.
First Estate: 0.5% Second Estate: 1.5% Third Estate: 98%
The First Estates was the Clergy; the Second Estates was the Aristocrats; and the Third Estates was the poor.
The French Estates General was made up of three main groups. This first Parliament consisted of the First Estates of clergy, the Second Estate of nobility, and the Third Estate of commoners.
The three Estates were the First Estate which included the Catholic Clergy, the Second Estate which consisted of the French Nobles and the Third Estate which was the commoners who represented 95 to 97% of the population.
In France, the majority of people belonged to the Third Estate before the French Revolution. This estate encompassed the commoners, including the bourgeoisie (middle class) and peasants. They made up the largest portion of the population but held the least privilege and political power compared to the First and Second Estates (clergy and nobility).
As many as 80% of the population was illiterate. The members of the First and Second Estates were uniformly well educated and that included women.
The Third Estate, made up of about 98% of France's population, which included the bourgeoisie, peasants, and laborers. Vote by Estate meant that each Estate was entitled to one vote per Estate, so the First and Second Estates (made up of about 2% of France's population, the aristocracy and the clergy) could vote together and successfully vote against 98% of France. Voting by head meant that the Estates would vote based on population, meaning that the Third Estate would have much more votes than the First and Second Estates.