Imperia Online International

What is the purpose of the population in colonies?


They don't work, and no resources are produced.  Troops can't be built from them.  They can't be moved to other population centers.  What purpose do they serve other than to breed and consume food, and consequently the materials needed to support their growth? 

In other words, if I simply ignore the population and don't bother building farms and housing for them in what way will it make any difference?

But they are producing a resource that you can extract from the tax :)

if you don't want this population you can always built another colony from this colony

You mean the special resource? 

What do you mean by "extract from the tax"?  Do you mean the bonus?

Assume a 5% bonus of gold, wood, iron or stone -  How does population of the colony make a difference in this bonus?

If the colony has 10 population there is a 5% bonus.  If the colony has 1 million population, there is a 5% bonus.  The colony does not actually produce resources on it's own, but (as I understand it) provides a bonus to production in the PROVINCES.  How does population in the colony make any difference?

The bonus on the production from the special resource affects all holdings in the empire.
Colony's population pays taxes in the colony paid in one of the four resources and the resource portions are given, accounting always the current amount of population. More population pays bigger tax.
Read more about tax rates http://www88.imperiaonline.org/imperia/game_v5/game/help/?lang=en&page=economy&race=1&speed=1#str_economy_desc_26