also: にんとう
noun
number of people; population
Used in formal or statistical contexts to refer to a count of people, such as in demographics or head counts.
この地域の人頭は年々減少している。
The population of this area is decreasing year by year.
noun
human head
Only with reading じんとう
Refers literally to the head of a human being; used in anatomical, forensic, or artistic contexts. Restricted to reading じんとう.
人頭の骨格標本が展示されている。
A skeletal specimen of a human head is on display.
Compound of 人 (person) and 頭 (head). The 'number of people' sense derives from counting heads, while the literal sense refers to a human head.