It's growing I guess. A lot more people in Daggerfall, Vulkhel Guard and Davon's Watch lately. Much more than when I started a month past.
It's my thoughts on it anyways. Don't know if it's the same for others who played the game far longer than I have.
"We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will, to strive, to seek and not to yield."
I think it goes up and down. They have a sale or a new release and there's a lot of new or renewed interest in the game, and then people naturally loose interest over time.
I think it also depends on what area and what sector of the population you are talking about. Some areas are more crowded while other areas you feel like you have the world to yourself.
Not many people in "The Rift" at 2 am Pacific Time, lol.
Number of players is great part of what makes a game healthy or dead, if only 5k players play an mmo the company doesn't enough support to come up with updates and fixes.