Not that many people respond to surveys, so the total EA population is probably higher than 2k, but it’s difficult to say how much higher.
We give an estimate of the total population engaged at levels 3-5/5 here, which suggests ~2700 (2300 to 3100) at the highest levels of engagement (5000-10000 overall).
We then estimate that the numbers of the most engaged have increased by ~15% between 2019 and 2020 (see the thread with Ben Todd here and the discussion in his EA Global talk.
This suggests to me there are likely 3000 or more highly engaged EAs at present (there has likely been further growth since December 2020).
It’s also important to note that (in my experience in different hiring rounds) a significant number of people who are successfully hired would not have been at levels 4-5 at the time of their application, which increases the numbers quite substantially.
We give an estimate of the total population engaged at levels 3-5/5 here, which suggests ~2700 (2300 to 3100) at the highest levels of engagement (5000-10000 overall).
We then estimate that the numbers of the most engaged have increased by ~15% between 2019 and 2020 (see the thread with Ben Todd here and the discussion in his EA Global talk.
This suggests to me there are likely 3000 or more highly engaged EAs at present (there has likely been further growth since December 2020).
It’s also important to note that (in my experience in different hiring rounds) a significant number of people who are successfully hired would not have been at levels 4-5 at the time of their application, which increases the numbers quite substantially.