Colonists
Overview
Colonists are the representation of the player population. They can grow, be taxed, colonize planets with the assistant of starships, and collect taxes from natives. 100 colonists equals 1 clan, which in turn requires 1kT of a starship's cargo hold.
Colonists Growth and Maximums
For climate conditions between 15 and 84, the max population and growth is as follows for non-Crystalline populations:
Outside of the favorable, the planet is considered a hostile world. No growth can take place. Default Climate Death Rate (or simply CDR) is 10. If the climate is less than 15, then the planet is considered an arctic world, and the formula for maxA applies. Otherwise, if the climate is at least 85, then the planet is considered a desert world, and maxD applies.
In any case, if the population is more than 6.6 million (or 66,000 clans, then growth is halved)
Crystalline Population
The Crystalline is far simpler, but it is worth nothing that they have two growth formulas. growthB is used with the campaign-exclusive Improved Desert Habitation, and it is otherwise growthA.