As of July 1, 2018, the US Census Bureau estimated the population of New York City to be 8,398,748. This means that according to the Census Bureau's calculations, there were approximately 8,398,748 people living in New York City at that time.
To give you an idea of how large this population is, here are a few comparisons:
1. New York City is the most populous city in the United States. In fact, it is more populous than the entire state of New Jersey!
2. If you were to line up all the residents of New York City, it would stretch for over 1,000 miles, which is roughly the distance from New York City to Orlando, Florida.
3. The population of New York City is greater than the population of many countries around the world, including Switzerland, Israel, and Ireland.
It's important to note that population estimates can change over time due to factors such as births, deaths, and migration. The US Census Bureau regularly updates these estimates to provide the most accurate information possible.