Aosta Valley - Demographics

Demographics

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1861 81,884
1871 81,260 −0.8%
1881 85,007 +4.6%
1901 83,529 −1.7%
1911 80,680 −3.4%
1921 82,769 +2.6%
1931 83,479 +0.9%
1936 83,455 −0.0%
1951 94,140 +12.8%
1961 100,959 +7.2%
1971 109,150 +8.1%
1981 112,353 +2.9%
1991 115,938 +3.2%
2001 119,548 +3.1%
2011 128,000 +7.1%
Source: ISTAT 2001

The population density of Aosta Valley is by far the lowest among the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km2 were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8, though the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, with a substantial part of the population living in the central valley. Migration from tributary valleys has now been stemmed by generous regional support for agriculture and tourist development. The population is growing slowly but steadily. Negative population growth since 1976 has been more than offset by immigration. The region has one of Italy's lowest birth rates, with a rising average age. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger persons working in the tourist industry. Between 1990 and 2001, the population of Aosta Valley has grown by 5.4%, which is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration. As of 2006, the Italian National Institute of Statistics ISTAT estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population.

The Valdôtain population and their language dialects have been the subject of some sociological research.

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