And how would you define the term?
For the purposes of this discussion, also keep in mind that we are only addressing the non-internet variety of "friend" in the interests of not wildly inflating the numbers.
Personally, I'm a standoffish introvert who doesn't get out a whole lot, and has a rather low tolerance for human stupidity. As you can imagine, my numbers aren't terribly high for that exact reason.
I have, however, had a couple of close friends in the past. While I have lost touch with some of them, I still have a couple even today (Army buddies mostly). Through them, I do socialize with a few other "friends of friends," some of whom I have come to know well enough that we occasionally hang out absent the "middle party" as well.
I mostly tend to have "friendly acquaintances," apart from that. These are people that I might occasionally chit-chat with or toss a friendly wave at work, school, or wherever else. However, they never really get past my superficial public persona, so they are not really "friends."
Of course, the people I am objectively closest with in my life would probably be my family, and my mother and younger brother in particular. We irritate the crap out of one another on occasion, but we ultimately get along. lol
It equals out to about somewhere in the 5-10 range, all things considered. That's held pretty much constant in my social life so far.
So it can only be people offline that you hang out with in person? Not family and not a long term romantic relationship?
That depends on you. Personally, I don't mind counting my family, or a significant other.
The only criteria per the OP is that they be someone you know in person.
Otherwise, we might get people trying to count every person they've ever seen on Facebook as being a "friend."
I don't have any friends offline except my family and significant other.
Well, that's fine too. Different strokes, and all that. Lol
I've met friends online in person though. But they live in other states and those kind of friendships are mostly over the phone and computer.