diff --git a/apps/user_ldap/group_ldap.php b/apps/user_ldap/group_ldap.php
index 4f2424d953..40d9dec141 100644
--- a/apps/user_ldap/group_ldap.php
+++ b/apps/user_ldap/group_ldap.php
@@ -276,6 +276,84 @@ class GROUP_LDAP extends BackendUtility implements \OCP\GroupInterface {
 		return $groupUsers;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief returns the number of users in a group, who match the search term
+	 * @param string the internal group name
+	 * @param string optional, a search string
+	 * @returns int | bool
+	 */
+	public function countUsersInGroup($gid, $search = '') {
+		$cachekey = 'countUsersInGroup-'.$gid.'-'.$search;
+		if(!$this->enabled || !$this->groupExists($gid)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		$groupUsers = $this->access->connection->getFromCache($cachekey);
+		if(!is_null($groupUsers)) {
+			return $groupUsers;
+		}
+
+		$groupDN = $this->access->groupname2dn($gid);
+		if(!$groupDN) {
+			// group couldn't be found, return empty resultset
+			$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cachekey, false);
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		$members = array_keys($this->_groupMembers($groupDN));
+		if(!$members) {
+			//in case users could not be retrieved, return empty resultset
+			$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cachekey, false);
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		if(empty($search)) {
+			$groupUsers = count($members);
+			$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cachekey, $groupUsers);
+			return $groupUsers;
+		}
+		$isMemberUid =
+			(strtolower($this->access->connection->ldapGroupMemberAssocAttr)
+			=== 'memberuid');
+
+		//we need to apply the search filter
+		//alternatives that need to be checked:
+		//a) get all users by search filter and array_intersect them
+		//b) a, but only when less than 1k 10k ?k users like it is
+		//c) put all DNs|uids in a LDAP filter, combine with the search string
+		//   and let it count.
+		//For now this is not important, because the only use of this method
+		//does not supply a search string
+		$groupUsers = array();
+		foreach($members as $member) {
+			if($isMemberUid) {
+				//we got uids, need to get their DNs to 'tranlsate' them to usernames
+				$filter = $this->access->combineFilterWithAnd(array(
+					\OCP\Util::mb_str_replace('%uid', $member,
+						$this->access->connection->ldapLoginFilter, 'UTF-8'),
+					$this->access->getFilterPartForUserSearch($search)
+				));
+				$ldap_users = $this->access->fetchListOfUsers($filter, 'dn');
+				if(count($ldap_users) < 1) {
+					continue;
+				}
+				$groupUsers[] = $this->access->dn2username($ldap_users[0]);
+			} else {
+				//we need to apply the search filter now
+				if(!$this->access->readAttribute($member,
+					$this->access->connection->ldapUserDisplayName,
+					$this->access->getFilterPartForUserSearch($search))) {
+					continue;
+				}
+				// dn2username will also check if the users belong to the allowed base
+				if($ocname = $this->access->dn2username($member)) {
+					$groupUsers[] = $ocname;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		return count($groupUsers);
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @brief get a list of all display names in a group
 	 * @returns array with display names (value) and user ids(key)
@@ -418,6 +496,9 @@ class GROUP_LDAP extends BackendUtility implements \OCP\GroupInterface {
 	* compared with OC_USER_BACKEND_CREATE_USER etc.
 	*/
 	public function implementsActions($actions) {
-		return (bool)(OC_GROUP_BACKEND_GET_DISPLAYNAME	& $actions);
+		return (bool)((
+			OC_GROUP_BACKEND_GET_DISPLAYNAME
+			| OC_GROUP_BACKEND_COUNT_USERS
+			) & $actions);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/apps/user_ldap/group_proxy.php b/apps/user_ldap/group_proxy.php
index 4404bd7fe3..c000973623 100644
--- a/apps/user_ldap/group_proxy.php
+++ b/apps/user_ldap/group_proxy.php
@@ -144,6 +144,17 @@ class Group_Proxy extends lib\Proxy implements \OCP\GroupInterface {
 		return $users;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief returns the number of users in a group, who match the search term
+	 * @param string the internal group name
+	 * @param string optional, a search string
+	 * @returns int | bool
+	 */
+	public function countUsersInGroup($gid, $search = '') {
+		return $this->handleRequest(
+			$gid, 'countUsersInGroup', array($gid, $search));
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @brief get a list of all display names in a group
 	 * @returns array with display names (value) and user ids(key)
diff --git a/apps/user_ldap/tests/group_ldap.php b/apps/user_ldap/tests/group_ldap.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ecbd42319e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/user_ldap/tests/group_ldap.php
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+<?php
+/**
+* ownCloud
+*
+* @author Arthur Schiwon
+* @copyright 2014 Arthur Schiwon <blizzz@owncloud.com>
+*
+* This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+* modify it under the terms of the GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
+* License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+* version 3 of the License, or any later version.
+*
+* This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+* GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE for more details.
+*
+* You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public
+* License along with this library.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*
+*/
+
+namespace OCA\user_ldap\tests;
+
+namespace OCA\user_ldap\tests;
+
+use \OCA\user_ldap\GROUP_LDAP as GroupLDAP;
+use \OCA\user_ldap\lib\Access;
+use \OCA\user_ldap\lib\Connection;
+use \OCA\user_ldap\lib\ILDAPWrapper;
+
+class Test_Group_Ldap extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase {
+	private function getAccessMock() {
+		static $conMethods;
+		static $accMethods;
+
+		if(is_null($conMethods) || is_null($accMethods)) {
+			$conMethods = get_class_methods('\OCA\user_ldap\lib\Connection');
+			$accMethods = get_class_methods('\OCA\user_ldap\lib\Access');
+		}
+		$lw  = $this->getMock('\OCA\user_ldap\lib\ILDAPWrapper');
+		$connector = $this->getMock('\OCA\user_ldap\lib\Connection',
+									$conMethods,
+									array($lw, null, null));
+		$access = $this->getMock('\OCA\user_ldap\lib\Access',
+								 $accMethods,
+								 array($connector, $lw));
+
+		return $access;
+	}
+
+	private function enableGroups($access) {
+		$access->connection->expects($this->any())
+			   ->method('__get')
+			   ->will($this->returnCallback(function($name) {
+// 					if($name === 'ldapLoginFilter') {
+// 						return '%uid';
+// 					}
+					return 1;
+			   }));
+	}
+
+	public function testCountEmptySearchString() {
+		$access = $this->getAccessMock();
+
+		$this->enableGroups($access);
+
+		$access->expects($this->any())
+			->method('groupname2dn')
+			->will($this->returnValue('cn=group,dc=foo,dc=bar'));
+
+		$access->expects($this->any())
+			->method('readAttribute')
+			->will($this->returnValue(array('u11', 'u22', 'u33', 'u34')));
+
+		$groupBackend = new GroupLDAP($access);
+		$users = $groupBackend->countUsersInGroup('group');
+
+		$this->assertSame(4, $users);
+	}
+
+	public function testCountWithSearchString() {
+		$access = $this->getAccessMock();
+
+		$this->enableGroups($access);
+
+		$access->expects($this->any())
+			->method('groupname2dn')
+			->will($this->returnValue('cn=group,dc=foo,dc=bar'));
+
+		$access->expects($this->any())
+			->method('readAttribute')
+			->will($this->returnCallback(function($name) {
+				//the search operation will call readAttribute, thus we need
+				//to anaylze the "dn". All other times we just need to return
+				//something that is neither null or false, but once an array
+				//with the users in the group – so we do so all other times for
+				//simplicicity.
+				if(strpos($name, 'u') === 0) {
+					return strpos($name, '3');
+				}
+				return array('u11', 'u22', 'u33', 'u34');
+			}));
+
+		$access->expects($this->any())
+			->method('dn2username')
+			->will($this->returnValue('foobar'));
+
+		$groupBackend = new GroupLDAP($access);
+		$users = $groupBackend->countUsersInGroup('group', '3');
+
+		$this->assertSame(2, $users);
+	}
+
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/private/group/backend.php b/lib/private/group/backend.php
index 2e17b5d0b7..b0ed0d90d7 100644
--- a/lib/private/group/backend.php
+++ b/lib/private/group/backend.php
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ define('OC_GROUP_BACKEND_DELETE_GROUP',      0x00000010);
 define('OC_GROUP_BACKEND_ADD_TO_GROUP',      0x00000100);
 define('OC_GROUP_BACKEND_REMOVE_FROM_GOUP',  0x00001000);
 define('OC_GROUP_BACKEND_GET_DISPLAYNAME',   0x00010000);
+define('OC_GROUP_BACKEND_COUNT_USERS',       0x00100000);
 
 /**
  * Abstract base class for user management
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ abstract class OC_Group_Backend implements OC_Group_Interface {
 		OC_GROUP_BACKEND_ADD_TO_GROUP => 'addToGroup',
 		OC_GROUP_BACKEND_REMOVE_FROM_GOUP => 'removeFromGroup',
 		OC_GROUP_BACKEND_GET_DISPLAYNAME => 'displayNamesInGroup',
+		OC_GROUP_BACKEND_COUNT_USERS => 'countUsersInGroup',
 	);
 
 	/**
diff --git a/lib/private/group/database.php b/lib/private/group/database.php
index d0974685ff..3815dcff2e 100644
--- a/lib/private/group/database.php
+++ b/lib/private/group/database.php
@@ -211,6 +211,20 @@ class OC_Group_Database extends OC_Group_Backend {
 		return $users;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief get the number of all users matching the search string in a group
+	 * @param string $gid
+	 * @param string $search
+	 * @param int $limit
+	 * @param int $offset
+	 * @return int | false
+	 */
+	public function countUsersInGroup($gid, $search = '') {
+		$stmt = OC_DB::prepare('SELECT COUNT(`uid`) AS `count` FROM `*PREFIX*group_user` WHERE `gid` = ? AND `uid` LIKE ?');
+		$result = $stmt->execute(array($gid, $search.'%'));
+		return $result->fetchOne();
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @brief get a list of all display names in a group
 	 * @param string $gid
diff --git a/lib/private/group/dummy.php b/lib/private/group/dummy.php
index da26e1b910..94cbb607ad 100644
--- a/lib/private/group/dummy.php
+++ b/lib/private/group/dummy.php
@@ -157,4 +157,14 @@ class OC_Group_Dummy extends OC_Group_Backend {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief get the number of all users in a group
+	 * @returns int | bool
+	 */
+	public function countUsersInGroup($gid, $search = '', $limit = -1, $offset = 0) {
+		if(isset($this->groups[$gid])) {
+			return count($this->groups[$gid]);
+		}
+	}
+
 }
diff --git a/lib/private/group/group.php b/lib/private/group/group.php
index 8d2aa87a78..a2b8a0dcbe 100644
--- a/lib/private/group/group.php
+++ b/lib/private/group/group.php
@@ -186,6 +186,27 @@ class Group {
 		return array_values($users);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * returns the number of users matching the search string
+	 *
+	 * @param string $search
+	 * @return int | bool
+	 */
+	public function count($search) {
+		$users = false;
+		foreach ($this->backends as $backend) {
+			if($backend->implementsActions(OC_GROUP_BACKEND_COUNT_USERS)) {
+				if($users === false) {
+					//we could directly add to a bool variable, but this would
+					//be ugly
+					$users = 0;
+				}
+				$users += $backend->countUsersInGroup($this->gid, $search);
+			}
+		}
+		return $users;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * search for users in the group by displayname
 	 *
diff --git a/tests/lib/group/group.php b/tests/lib/group/group.php
index 3982c00e45..147532f994 100644
--- a/tests/lib/group/group.php
+++ b/tests/lib/group/group.php
@@ -299,6 +299,68 @@ class Group extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase {
 		$this->assertEquals('user1', $user1->getUID());
 	}
 
+	public function testCountUsers() {
+		$backend1 = $this->getMock('OC_Group_Database');
+		$userManager = $this->getUserManager();
+		$group = new \OC\Group\Group('group1', array($backend1), $userManager);
+
+		$backend1->expects($this->once())
+			->method('countUsersInGroup')
+			->with('group1', '2')
+			->will($this->returnValue(3));
+
+		$backend1->expects($this->any())
+			->method('implementsActions')
+			->will($this->returnValue(true));
+
+		$users = $group->count('2');
+
+		$this->assertSame(3, $users);
+	}
+
+	public function testCountUsersMultipleBackends() {
+		$backend1 = $this->getMock('OC_Group_Database');
+		$backend2 = $this->getMock('OC_Group_Database');
+		$userManager = $this->getUserManager();
+		$group = new \OC\Group\Group('group1', array($backend1, $backend2), $userManager);
+
+		$backend1->expects($this->once())
+			->method('countUsersInGroup')
+			->with('group1', '2')
+			->will($this->returnValue(3));
+		$backend1->expects($this->any())
+			->method('implementsActions')
+			->will($this->returnValue(true));
+
+		$backend2->expects($this->once())
+			->method('countUsersInGroup')
+			->with('group1', '2')
+			->will($this->returnValue(4));
+		$backend2->expects($this->any())
+			->method('implementsActions')
+			->will($this->returnValue(true));
+
+		$users = $group->count('2');
+
+		$this->assertSame(7, $users);
+	}
+
+	public function testCountUsersNoMethod() {
+		$backend1 = $this->getMock('OC_Group_Database');
+		$userManager = $this->getUserManager();
+		$group = new \OC\Group\Group('group1', array($backend1), $userManager);
+
+		$backend1->expects($this->never())
+			->method('countUsersInGroup');
+		$backend1->expects($this->any())
+			->method('implementsActions')
+			->will($this->returnValue(false));
+
+		$users = $group->count('2');
+
+		$this->assertSame(false, $users);
+	}
+
 	public function testDelete() {
 		$backend = $this->getMock('OC_Group_Database');
 		$userManager = $this->getUserManager();