University of Calabria index ranks rurality of 404 municipalities

The University of Calabria has released the IRU2020–21 Rurality Index, a multidimensional study analyzing the 404 municipalities in the Calabria region. The index categorizes territories along a continuum ranging from highly rural to highly urban.

Ciminà, located in the province of Reggio Calabria, was identified as the most rural municipality with an index value of 0.166. Other highly rural areas include Campana, San Luca, and Scala Coeli. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Cosenza was ranked as the most urban municipality with a value of 0.825, followed by Zumpano, Catanzaro, and Reggio di Calabria.

The index is calculated using eight distinct indicators: population density, accessibility to services, presence of connected business activities, demographic dependency, the number of farmers, utilized agricultural area, unused housing space, and employment in low-productivity sectors.