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{{Short description|Administrative region of Greece}}
{{Infobox Peri GR
{{Other uses|Epirus (disambiguation)}}
|name = Epirus
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
|name_local = Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου
{{Infobox settlement
|image_map = GreeceEpirus.png
| name = Epirus
|prefec = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| native_name = {{lang|el|Ήπειρος}}
|capital = ]
| type = ]<br />]
|population = 358698
| image_flag =
|population_as_of = 2005
| image_map = Ipiros in Greece.svg
|area = 9203
| map_caption = Epirus within Greece
|website =
| coordinates = {{coord|39.6|20.8|format=dms|region:GR-D|display=inline,title}}
}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Greece}}
| subdivision_type1 = Decentralized Administration
| subdivision_name1 = ]
| leader_title = Regional governor
| leader_name = {{interlanguage link|Alexandros Kachrimanis|el|Αλέξανδρος Καχριμάνης}}
| leader_party = {{nowrap|]}}
| parts_type = ]
| parts_style = list
| p1 = ]
| p2 = ]
| p3 = ]
| p4 = ]
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = ]
| area_total_km2 = 9203.22
| population_total = 319991
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = ]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="2021census">{{cite press release |title=Census 2021 GR|url=https://elstat-outsourcers.statistics.gr/Census2022_GR.pdf|publisher=]|date=2022-07-19|access-date=2022-09-12}}</ref>
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{citation|title=Population on 1 January by age, sex and NUTS 2 region|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DEMO_R_D2JAN/default/table?lang=en|website=www.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
|demographics2_title1 = Total
|demographics2_info1 = €4.049 billion (2021)
| timezone = ]
| utc_offset = +2
| timezone_DST = ]
| utc_offset_DST = +3
| iso_code = GR-D
| blank_name_sec2 = ] (2022)
| blank_info_sec2 = 0.878<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2021-07-20}}</ref><br/>{{color|#090|very high}} · ]
| website = {{URL|http://www.php.gov.gr/}}
}}


'''Epirus''' (]: Ήπειρος, ''Ípiros''), is a ] in northwestern ]. It borders the peripheries of ] and ] to the east, ''Stereá Elláda'' (]) to the south, the ] and the ] to the west and ] to the north. The province has an area of about 9,200 km² (3,551 square miles). It is part of the wider historical region of ], which overlaps modern ] and ] but mostly lies in Greek territory. '''Epirus''' ({{IPAc-en|ɪ|ˈ|p|aɪ|r|ə|s}} {{respell|ih|PY|rəs}}; {{langx|el|Ήπειρος|translit=Ípiros}}, {{IPA-el|ˈi.pi.ros|}}) is a traditional ] and modern ] in northwestern ].<ref name=":0">Π.Δ. 51/87 "Καθορισμός των Περιφερειών της Χώρας για το σχεδιασμό κ.λ.π. της Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης" (''Determination of the Regions of the Country for the planning etc. of the development of the regions, ] ΦΕΚ A 26/06.03.1987''</ref> It borders the regions of ] and ] to the east, ] to the south, the ] and ] to the west and ] to the north. The region has an area of about {{convert|9200|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is part of the wider historical region of ], which overlaps modern Albania and Greece but lies mostly within Greek territory.


==Geography and ecology== ==Geography and ecology==
] with the ]]]
Greek Epirus, like the region as a whole, is rugged and mountainous.It comprises the land of the ancient ] and ]<ref>Winnifrith, T.J. ''Badlands-Borderland: A History of Southern Albania/Northern Epirus''. London: Duckworth Publishers, 2003, ISBN-10: 0715632019, p. 8. "The Thesprotians lived in the western part of what is now Greek Epirus, the Molossians in the rest of Greek Epirus, and the Chaonians in the southern section of Southern Albania..."</ref> and a small part of the land of the ] the greater part being in Southern ]. It is largely made up of mountainous ridges, part of the ]. The periphery's highest spot is on Mount ], at an altitude of 2.637 metres above sea level. In the east, the ] that form the spine of mainland Greece separate Epirus from ] and ]. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus. The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece.
]]]


Greek Epirus, like the region as a whole, is rugged and mountainous. It comprises the land of the ancient ] and ]<ref>Winnifrith, T. J. ''Badlands-Borderland: A History of Southern Albania/Northern Epirus''. London: Duckworth Publishers, 2003, {{ISBN|0-7156-3201-9}}, p. 8. "The Thesprotians lived in the western part of what is now Greek Epirus, the Molossians in the rest of Greek Epirus, and the Chaonians in the southern section of Southern Albania&nbsp;..."</ref> and a small part of the land of the ], the greater part being in Southern ]. It is largely made up of mountainous ridges, part of the ]. The region's highest spot is Mount ], at an altitude of {{convert|2637|m|ft}} above sea level. In the east, the ] that form the spine of mainland Greece separate Epirus from ] and ]. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus. The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece.
The ] and Pindus National Parks are situated in the ] of the periphery. Both areas have imposing landscapes of dazzling beauty as well as a wide range of ] and ]. The climate of Epirus is mainly ]. The vegetation is made up mainly of coniferous species. The animal life is especially rich in this area and includes, among other species, ]s, ], ]es, ] and ]es.


The ] and ]s are situated in the ] of the region. Both areas have a wide range of ] and ]. The climate of Epirus is mainly ]. The vegetation is made up mainly of coniferous species. The animal life is especially rich in this area and includes, among other species, bears, ], foxes, ] and ]es.
]


==History== ==Administration==
The ''Epirus Region'' ({{Lang|el|Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|Periféria Ipírou}}), as it is currently defined, was established in the 1987 administrative reform and was divided into ] ({{Lang|el|νομοί}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|nomí}}), which were further subdivided into ] ({{Lang|el|δήμοι}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|dhími}}).<ref name=":0" />
Epirus is the birthland of the Doric Greeks tribes such as the Spartans and the Macedonians. In antiquity, the two major Greek tribes in the region where the Chaones and the Molossians. The latter later proved the mightiest thus ruling the land. Perhaps the most famous Molossian is Olympias, mother of Alexandeer the Great. Another great Epirote was Olympia's nephew Pyrrhhus. The latter united Epirus inder his league and for a long time he was Rome's greatest adversary. After his death in Argos however, Epirus fell into decline and conquered by the Romans which turned her to a province. The most important Roman sea-battle was waged in the bay of Actium near modern Preveza in 31 b.C.


Greece's ]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Article 1.006, Act No. 3852/2010|url=http://www.kedke.gr/uploads/N38522010_KALLIKRATIS_FEKA87_07062010.pdf|date=2010-07-05|language=el|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705024807/http://www.kedke.gr/uploads/N38522010_KALLIKRATIS_FEKA87_07062010.pdf|archive-date=2010-07-05|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> streamlined local government by replacing the prefectures with ] ({{Lang|el|περιφερειακή ενότητα}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|periferiakí enótita}}) and re-structuring former ] to reduce their total number. Today, the four regional units of Epirus are: ], ], ], and ].
Later, Epirus became a Byzantine theme named, ruled by the Roman city of Nicopolis and later by Arta. After the first fall of Constantinople in 1204, Epirus turned to a separate State ruled from Arta by the Komninoi dynasty, called the Despotate of Epirus. The despotate conducted several wars with the Latin kings of Macedonia, as well as the Normans (West), the Bulgarians (East) and the Serbs (North). The latter crippled the country leaving Epirus unable to stop the coming Ottoman conquest. Ottoman rule was an era of decay for Epirus, much like all Ottoman-held lands. Epirus geography sustained Christian resistance enclaves throughout the centuries but the most important anti-Ottoman blow came from the Albanian Pasha Ali of Ioannina. Ali Pasha challenged the Sultan's authority in 1820 and this caused a small civil war. Ali-Pasha was arrested and beheaded in Ioannina.


], in red, ], in blue, ] and in green, ].]]
The dissaray caused by Ali-Pasha however gave valuable time to the Southern Greek rebels which later managed to liberate themselves from Ottoman rule thanks to his actions. Epirus herself however was not liberated until 90 years later in 1912, during the first Balkan War. An an outcome, Epirus was liberated and incorporated to Greece, with the exception of the Northern part maintained by Albania. The Turkish populations of Epirus were exchanged with Greek refugees from Asia Minor in 1924, leaving Epirus fully Greek. The crashing Italian defeat which changed the route of World War 2 took place in the mountains of Epirus between 1940 to 1941, but Epirus, as well as Greece fell when the German and Bulgarian forces conquered Greece from Macedonia. During the triple (Italian, Albanian, German) occupation lasting from 1941 to 1944, the Paramythia/Chammeria area was given to Albania, which attempted an Albanisation campaign which ended 3 years later when the Axis forces retreated. Despite the exodus of the Chammerians and the Germans, peace didn't come to the region since it was immediately involved in the Greek civil war, perhaps the first 'hot' incident of the starting cold war. The end of the war brought immence poverty to the locals which were forced to resettle in major urban centers of immigrate. The impact of the 1940's wars are still felt in some areas till this day.


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%"
==Government==
|-
]
!Regional Unit
!width=160|Municipality
!width=85|Population
(2011)<ref name=2011census>{{cite web|publisher=] |title=Demographic and social characteristics of the Resident Population of Greece according to the 2011 Population – Housing Census revision of 20/3/2014 |date=12 September 2014 |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A1602/PressReleases/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_03_F_EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908142240/http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A1602/PressReleases/A1602_SAM01_DT_DC_00_2011_03_F_EN.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2015 }}</ref>
!Population
(2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elstat-outsourcers.statistics.gr/Census2022_GR.pdf|access-date=6 April 2023|website=statistics.gr|title=Census 2022|language=Greek}}</ref>
! width="115" |Seat
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|112,486
|style="text-align:right"|113,094
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|6,362
|style="text-align:right"|5,325
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|8,960
|style="text-align:right"|6,859
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|3,724
|style="text-align:right"|3,384
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|6,196
|style="text-align:right"|5,429
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|14,766
|style="text-align:right"|13,630
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|5,714
|style="text-align:right"|5,075
|]
|-
|'''Ioannina'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|9,693
|style="text-align:right"|7,258
|]
|-
|'''Arta'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|43,166
|style="text-align:right"|41,633
|]
|-
|'''Arta'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|6,178
|style="text-align:right"|5,562
|]
|-
|'''Arta'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|12,753
|style="text-align:right"|11,411
|]
|-
|'''Arta'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|5,780
|style="text-align:right"|5,321
|]
|-
|'''Preveza'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|31,733
|style="text-align:right"|30,893
|]
|-
|'''Preveza'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|13,892
|style="text-align:right"|13,071
|]
|-
|'''Preveza'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|11,866
|style="text-align:right"|10,771
|]
|-
|'''Thesprotia'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|25,814
|style="text-align:right"|25,709
|]
|-
|'''Thesprotia'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|10,063
|style="text-align:right"|8,767
|]
|-
|'''Thesprotia'''
|''']'''
|style="text-align:right"|7,710
|style="text-align:right"|6,351
|]
|-
|}


The region's governor, since 1 January 2011, is ], who was elected in the ] for the ] and ] parties, and re-elected in ] and ].
Epirus is divided into four ] ('']''), which are further subdivided into '']'' (]) or ''koinótētes'' (roughly equivalent to ] or ] ]s).


==Communities==
The prefectures are:
]]]
#]
]]]
#]
#]
#]


===Municipalities===
==Cities==

*]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*] *]
*]
*]
*] *]
*]
*] *]
*]
*]
*]
*]

===Municipal units===
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] *]
*] *]


==Economy== ==Economy==
Epirus has few resources or industries and its rugged terrain makes agriculture difficult. Sheep and goat ] have always been an important activity in the periphery (Epirus provides more than 45% of meat to the Greek market) but there seems to be a decline in recent years. ] is grown around Ioannina, and there is also some ] and ], but most of the area's food must be imported from more fertile regions of Greece. Epirus is home to a number of the country's most famous dairy products' brands, which produce ] cheese among others. Epirus has few resources and its rugged terrain makes agriculture difficult. Sheep and goat ] has always been an important activity in the region (Epirus provides more than 45% of meat to the Greek market), but there seems to be a decline in recent years. ] is grown around Ioannina, and there is also some ] and ], but most of the area's food must be imported from more fertile regions of Greece. Epirus is home to a number of the country's most famous dairy product brands, which produce ] cheese among others. Another important area of the local economy is tourism, especially eco-tourism. The natural environment of the area, as well as its traditional villages and lifestyle, have made Epirus a tourist attraction.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

The ] (GDP) of the region was €4.1 billion in 2018, accounting for 2.2% of Greek economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €14,700 or 49% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 63% of the EU average. Epirus is the region in Greece with the third lowest GDP per capita and one of the poorest regions in the EU.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>


==Demographics== ==Demographics==
Around 350,000 people live in Epirus. According to the 2001 census, it has the lowest population of the 13 ]. This is partly due to the impact of repeated wars in the 20th century as well as mass ] due to adverse economic conditions. The capital and largest city of the region is ], where nearly a third of the population lives. The great majority of the population are ], but the province also includes one of Greece's largest concentrations of ], people who identify with the Greek population. Greece does not officially recognize minorities other than the ] in ], therefore it is difficult to estimate the size of the ] populations. Around 320,000 people live in Epirus. According to the 2001 census, it has the lowest population of the 13 ]. This is partly due to the impact of repeated wars in the 20th century as well as mass ] due to adverse economic conditions. The capital and largest city of the region is ], where nearly a third of the population lives. The great majority of the population are ], including ] and ]. The region has shrunk by 17,313 people between 2011 and 2021, experiencing a population loss of 5.1%.<ref name="2021census"/>


The delineation of the border between Greece and Albania in 1913 left some Albanian-populated villages on the Greek side of the border as well as Greek-populated villages and cities in ], in present-day Albania. In the past, the coastal region of ] was also home to a ] minority, whose number did not exceed 25,000 in the 1940s, alongside the local Greeks.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kretsi|first1=Georgia|title=Ethnologia Balkanica|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ebpDLhkVWcC&pg=PA173 |access-date=27 July 2014|quote=The Chams are understood as members of the Albanian-speaking Muslim "minority" which used to live predominantly in northwestern Greece (Epirus),}}</ref> After the war and their expulsion, the Greek census of 1951 counted a total of 127 Muslim Albanian Chams in Epirus, while 44 were counted in 1986 in Thesprotia.<ref>Ktistakis, 1992: pp. 8, 9 (citing Krapsitis V., 1986: Οι Μουσουλμάνοι Τσάμηδες της Θεσπρωτίας (The Muslim Chams of Thesprotia), Athens, 1986, p. 181.</ref>
According to research conducted by a Romanian ethnographer in 1994, native Albanian is dying fast, and attempts to find Albanian-speakers in the region proved unsuccessful.<ref>Winnifrith, Tom J. "Southern Albania, Northern Epirus: Survey of a Disputed Ethnological Boundary" ().</ref>


==Gallery==
The delineation of the border between Greece and Albania in 1913 left a number of Albanian-populated villages on the Greek side of the border (and the Greek-populated villages and cities in the region called ] on the Albanian). Some Albanians view this territory as part of a region that they call ] (] in ]), formerly parts of it were populated by a minority, the ] along with the majority ethnic Greeks.
<gallery>
File:Dodona theater.jpg|The ancient theatre in ]
File:Κορυφογραμμή Πίνδου.JPG|] mountains
File:Παραμυθένια βόλτα.jpg|] river
File:Preveza Greece from above dsc06080.jpg|] of ]
File:Metsovo.jpg|]
File:408Aristi.JPG|] village in ], example of ]
File:Pargaharbour.jpg|]
</gallery>

==See also==
*]
*]


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category|Epirus (region)}}
*
* {{official website}} {{in lang|el}}
* (in English and Greek)


{{Kallikratis-Epirus}}
{{Peripheries of Greece}}
{{Regions of Greece}} {{Geographic regions of Greece}}
{{Administrative regions of Greece}}
{{Authority control}}


]
{{coord missing|Greece}}
]

] ]
] ]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 11:39, 26 October 2024

Administrative region of Greece For other uses, see Epirus (disambiguation).

Place in Epirus and Western Macedonia, Greece
Epirus Ήπειρος
Administrative region of Greece
Traditional region of Greece
Epirus within GreeceEpirus within Greece
Coordinates: 39°36′N 20°48′E / 39.6°N 20.8°E / 39.6; 20.8
Country Greece
Decentralized AdministrationEpirus and Western Macedonia
CapitalIoannina
Regional units List
Government
 • Regional governorAlexandros Kachrimanis [el] (New Democracy)
Area
 • Total9,203.22 km (3,553.38 sq mi)
Population
 • Total319,991
 • Density35/km (90/sq mi)
DemonymEpirote
GDP
 • Total€4.049 billion (2021)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeGR-D
HDI (2022)0.878
very high · 5th of 13
Websitewww.php.gov.gr

Epirus (/ɪˈpaɪrəs/ ih-PY-rəs; Greek: Ήπειρος, romanized: Ípiros, [ˈi.pi.ros]) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region in northwestern Greece. It borders the regions of Western Macedonia and Thessaly to the east, West Greece to the south, the Ionian Sea and Ionian Islands to the west and Albania to the north. The region has an area of about 9,200 km (3,600 sq mi). It is part of the wider historical region of Epirus, which overlaps modern Albania and Greece but lies mostly within Greek territory.

Geography and ecology

Lake Pamvotis with the Ioannina Island
Vikos–Aoös National Park

Greek Epirus, like the region as a whole, is rugged and mountainous. It comprises the land of the ancient Molossians and Thesprotians and a small part of the land of the Chaonians, the greater part being in Southern Albania. It is largely made up of mountainous ridges, part of the Dinaric Alps. The region's highest spot is Mount Smolikas, at an altitude of 2,637 metres (8,652 ft) above sea level. In the east, the Pindus Mountains that form the spine of mainland Greece separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus. The winds from the Ionian Sea offer the region more rainfall than any other part of Greece.

The Vikos-Aoos and Pindus National Parks are situated in the Ioannina Prefecture of the region. Both areas have a wide range of fauna and flora. The climate of Epirus is mainly alpine. The vegetation is made up mainly of coniferous species. The animal life is especially rich in this area and includes, among other species, bears, wolves, foxes, deer and lynxes.

Administration

The Epirus Region (Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου, Periféria Ipírou), as it is currently defined, was established in the 1987 administrative reform and was divided into prefectures (νομοί, nomí), which were further subdivided into municipalities (δήμοι, dhími).

Greece's local government reforms of 2011 streamlined local government by replacing the prefectures with regional units (περιφερειακή ενότητα, periferiakí enótita) and re-structuring former municipalities and communities to reduce their total number. Today, the four regional units of Epirus are: Thesprotia, Ioannina, Arta, and Preveza.

The administrative division of the Epirus region in municipalities. In shades of yellow, the regional unit of Thesprotia, in red, Ioannina, in blue, Preveza and in green, Arta.
Regional Unit Municipality Population

(2011)

Population

(2021)

Seat
Ioannina Ioannina 112,486 113,094 Ioannina
Ioannina Konitsa 6,362 5,325 Konitsa
Ioannina Pogoni 8,960 6,859 Kalpaki
Ioannina Zagori 3,724 3,384 Asprangeloi
Ioannina Metsovo 6,196 5,429 Metsovo
Ioannina Zitsa 14,766 13,630 Eleousa
Ioannina North Tzoumerka 5,714 5,075 Pramanta
Ioannina Dodoni 9,693 7,258 Agia Kyriaki
Arta Arta 43,166 41,633 Arta
Arta Central Tzoumerka 6,178 5,562 Vourgareli
Arta Nikolaos Skoufas 12,753 11,411 Peta
Arta Georgios Karaiskakis 5,780 5,321 Ano Kalentini
Preveza Preveza 31,733 30,893 Preveza
Preveza Ziros 13,892 13,071 Filippiada
Preveza Parga 11,866 10,771 Kanallaki
Thesprotia Igoumenitsa 25,814 25,709 Igoumenitsa
Thesprotia Souli 10,063 8,767 Paramythia
Thesprotia Filiates 7,710 6,351 Filiates

The region's governor, since 1 January 2011, is Alexandros Kachrimanis, who was elected in the November 2010 local administration elections for the New Democracy and Popular Orthodox Rally parties, and re-elected in May 2014 and May 2019.

Communities

Street of Paramythia
Syvota

Municipalities

Municipal units

Economy

Epirus has few resources and its rugged terrain makes agriculture difficult. Sheep and goat pastoralism has always been an important activity in the region (Epirus provides more than 45% of meat to the Greek market), but there seems to be a decline in recent years. Tobacco is grown around Ioannina, and there is also some farming and fishing, but most of the area's food must be imported from more fertile regions of Greece. Epirus is home to a number of the country's most famous dairy product brands, which produce feta cheese among others. Another important area of the local economy is tourism, especially eco-tourism. The natural environment of the area, as well as its traditional villages and lifestyle, have made Epirus a tourist attraction.

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the region was €4.1 billion in 2018, accounting for 2.2% of Greek economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €14,700 or 49% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 63% of the EU average. Epirus is the region in Greece with the third lowest GDP per capita and one of the poorest regions in the EU.

Demographics

Around 320,000 people live in Epirus. According to the 2001 census, it has the lowest population of the 13 regions of Greece. This is partly due to the impact of repeated wars in the 20th century as well as mass emigration due to adverse economic conditions. The capital and largest city of the region is Ioannina, where nearly a third of the population lives. The great majority of the population are Greeks, including Aromanians and Arvanites. The region has shrunk by 17,313 people between 2011 and 2021, experiencing a population loss of 5.1%.

The delineation of the border between Greece and Albania in 1913 left some Albanian-populated villages on the Greek side of the border as well as Greek-populated villages and cities in Northern Epirus, in present-day Albania. In the past, the coastal region of Thesprotia was also home to a Cham Albanian minority, whose number did not exceed 25,000 in the 1940s, alongside the local Greeks. After the war and their expulsion, the Greek census of 1951 counted a total of 127 Muslim Albanian Chams in Epirus, while 44 were counted in 1986 in Thesprotia.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census 2021 GR" (PDF) (Press release). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. "Population on 1 January by age, sex and NUTS 2 region", www.ec.europa.eu
  3. "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ Π.Δ. 51/87 "Καθορισμός των Περιφερειών της Χώρας για το σχεδιασμό κ.λ.π. της Περιφερειακής Ανάπτυξης" (Determination of the Regions of the Country for the planning etc. of the development of the regions, Efimeris tis Kyverniseos ΦΕΚ A 26/06.03.1987
  5. Winnifrith, T. J. Badlands-Borderland: A History of Southern Albania/Northern Epirus. London: Duckworth Publishers, 2003, ISBN 0-7156-3201-9, p. 8. "The Thesprotians lived in the western part of what is now Greek Epirus, the Molossians in the rest of Greek Epirus, and the Chaonians in the southern section of Southern Albania ..."
  6. "Article 1.006, Act No. 3852/2010" (PDF) (in Greek). 5 July 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. "Demographic and social characteristics of the Resident Population of Greece according to the 2011 Population – Housing Census revision of 20/3/2014" (PDF). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2015.
  8. "Census 2022" (PDF). statistics.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. "Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018". Eurostat.
  10. Kretsi, Georgia. Ethnologia Balkanica. LIT Verlag Münster. Retrieved 27 July 2014. The Chams are understood as members of the Albanian-speaking Muslim "minority" which used to live predominantly in northwestern Greece (Epirus),
  11. Ktistakis, 1992: pp. 8, 9 (citing Krapsitis V., 1986: Οι Μουσουλμάνοι Τσάμηδες της Θεσπρωτίας (The Muslim Chams of Thesprotia), Athens, 1986, p. 181.

External links

Administrative division of the Epirus Region
Area
9,203 km (3,553 sq mi)
Population
336,856 (as of 2011)
Municipalities
18 (since 2011)
Capital
Ioannina
Regional unit of Arta
Regional unit of Ioannina
Regional unit of Preveza
Regional unit of Thesprotia
Regional governor
Alexandros Kachrimanis [el] (since 2014)
Decentralized Administration
Epirus and Western Macedonia
Traditional geographic regions of Greece
Greece
Regions of Greece
Regions Greece
Autonomous regions
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