A few "underpopulated" regions of Europe
To date, I've mostly focused on underpopulated regions of the United States and Canada.
My “empty” videos on YouTube are quite popular! Hunter and I discussed a little bit about why this might be on this week’s podcast episode, but still I find it so interesting that people enjoy them so much. So far these videos have been almost entirely focused on the United States (with a single episode on Canada), which is probably not a surprise since I’m from here. But I also know there are other areas around the world that could be considered “underpopulated” as well, and I’m sure each and every one has an interesting story. So I decided to write a quick article about some of the ones I found in Europe!
But first, let’s talk a little bit about what I mean when I say “underpopulated” or “empty” because it’s kind of a loaded term.
Defining “underpopulated”
Underpopulated is a complicated term to use, but it’s probably the most accurate. Depending on how it’s used, there can be an intentionality behind it that suggests that more people should live in this area. However, when I use the term in one of my videos, or here on this Substack, that is absolutely not the case. Rather it’s being used in a manner to contrast with other regions that have many more people. Basically, it’s a relative term. Basically this:
Place ‘X’ has fewer people than place ‘Y’ … let’s figure out what that might be.
And that’s all! I understand people can get quite defensive over their homes and I just like to be super clear.
So with that out of the way, let’s talk about some of the initial areas I’ve explored in Europe!
Some of Europe's underpopulated regions
Europe is often characterized and romanticized by its huge cities such as Paris, London, Berlin and Rome. And while Europe is the second smallest continent by land area size with an otherwise pretty sizeable population (725 million people) it’s also home to underpopulated regions that offer unique landscapes, cultures, and histories. Here’s a few that I found. Some might even turn into videos someday!
Lapland - Finland, Sweden, and Norway
Location
Located in the northern parts of Finland, Sweden, and Norway, Lapland stretches across the Arctic Circle.
Why it’s underpopulated
Well this one probably won’t be a surprise to many, but this area is known for its extreme climate, with long, cold winters and short summers. The harsh conditions and isolation have led to low population density. However, the indigenous Sámi people have lived here for centuries, adapting to the harsh environmental conditions, something we see with the Inuit of northern Alaska and Canada as well.
Svalbard - Norway
Location
An archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, Svalbard is a part of Norway but has special international status where it’s been established as a free economic zone and a demilitarized zone.
Why it’s underpopulated
Again, not a huge surprise here but extreme arctic conditions basically make it inhospitable for permanent human settlement. Most residents are researchers or workers involved in short-term projects, particularly focused on climate research and mining. It’s not quite Antarctica, but…
Alentejo - Portugal
Location
This region covers a large part of southern Portugal, just north of the Algarve. This one is actually pretty interesting because it’s so close to Lisbon, the largest city and capital of Portugal.
Why it’s underpopulated
With its vast, rolling plains and hot, dry climate, Alentejo is primarily agricultural land. The region has experienced economic challenges and outmigration to urban centers (something we see frequently with regions around the world), leaving behind an older population and lower density.
Scottish Highlands - United Kingdom
Location
Situated in the northern part of Scotland, the Highlands cover a rugged, mountainous terrain. It’s actually one of my very favorite places to visit. It’s simply stunning to see in person.
Why it’s underpopulated
Geographically the Scottish Highlands are very isolated with challenging terrains and compared to the south have historically been less accessible for trade and agriculture. It doesn’t help that Rome built a wall to basically keep the highlands separate from their massive empire. The Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries also led to mass emigration, further reducing the population.
Aosta Valley - Italy
Location
Located in the northwestern corner of Italy, Aosta Valley is surrounded by the Alps.
Why it’s underpopulated
With mountainous terrain that limits agricultural and urban development, the Aosta Valley has fewer inhabitants. However, its scenic beauty makes it a popular tourist destination, especially for winter sports.
But there are so many more!
These were just a few regions that stood out to me as I explored the population density of the continent, but they’re definitely not the only ones. Underpopulated regions can be found in almost every country (barring a very few) and, as usual, there are geographic reasons that can explain all of them.
It’s my plan to create videos about all of these places at some point. Again, not to say that these places should have more people, but rather just to highlight areas that are often not in the spotlight and to use them as a contrast for other areas that attract huge amounts of people. Migration patterns, after all, are highly geographic!
Abruzzo, Italia! Right in the middle of the country, close to Roma, but only 1.3 million peeps.