The population problem makes me love and hate again.When I was playing CivilizationV,population can bring more productivity and more dissatisfaction.
An NPC settlement should only be able to use the limited land around it.The level of technology determines the maximum range of the available land.Also determines the output of food per unit area.
If NPC doesn’t get enough food, they can’t breed, or even starve.
So higher levels of technology can support a larger society, and of course ,you can make your society small even you have modern technology.
I think it is necessary to add a policy option that limits population growth for society managers, especially when you are in early game that your food production is low.