III.

Population

Calabria has 1,998,052 inhabitants (2007 estimate), with an average population density of 133 people per sq km (345 per sq mi). Catanzaro (population, 2007 estimate, 94,381) became the region’s capital in 1970; the former capital and largest city is Reggio di Calabria (2007 estimate, 184,179). Other important cities include Crotone (2007 estimate, 60,673); Cosenza (2007 estimate, 69,868); Nicastro (1991, 53,700); Vibo Valentia (2007 estimate, 33,825); Rossano (2007 estimate, 36,760); Rende (2007 estimate, 35,124); and Acri (2007 estimate, 21,362).

Italian is the official language of Calabria, although two regional languages—Napoletano-Calabrese and Calabro-Sicilian—are also spoken. Arbëreshë (a dialect of the Albanian language) has also been spoken in some villages since the 15th century, when a large number of Albanian immigrants settled in the region. The University of Calabria (1972) is located in Arcavacata, a small village between Rende and Cosenza; other institutions of higher education in the region include the Mediterranean University of Reggio di Calabria (1968) and Magna Graecia University (1998), in Catanzaro.