Adair gives them 4,500 warriors, Hawkins 6,000.

But much less seems to have been known about them than about the Creeks, Cherokees, and Chickasaws; and most early estimates of Indians were largest when made of the least-known tribes.

Adair's statement is probably the most trustworthy.
The first accurate census showed the Creeks to be more numerous.
7.

Hawkins, Pickens, etc., make them "at least" 27,000 in 1789, the Indian report for 1837 make them 26,844.

During the half century they had suffered from devastating wars and forced removals, and had probably slightly decreased in number.