According to the latest census reported for the Island of Zakynthos, approximately 40,759 people were living there. In 2006, there were 507 births and 407 deaths. The principal city on Zakynthos is also called the same name as the namesake of the island. It is one of the regions with the highest population growth in Greece by the percentage of births but is nominally small in terms of the current population.
It is one of three prefectures in which the largely rural population of the island has a positive growth rate, which is an extremely uncommon factor in the modern world that has seen an extremely large shift towards living and working in densely populated metropolises. The rural population growth is much higher than the urban population growth percentage on the island. Out of the 507 births in 206, 366 of them were in rural areas. Of the 407 deaths, 283 of them were in rural areas.
Zakynthos, which also has the Italian name Zacinto or Zante, from the Venetian form, is a Greek island that is found in the Ionian Sea. It is considered the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Zakynthos is a separate regional unit of the region known as the Ionian Islands and is also the only municipality in the area. The suffix, "ethos" is part of the pre-Mycenaean era. Greek mythology states that the island was named after the son of the legendary Arcadian chief, who was named Zakynthos.
The island is a popular tourist destination complete with an international airport. While there are commercial flights like many other tourist destinations, the airport commonly receives chartered flights from wealthy private families and individuals. Many private charters originate from northern Europe, possibly because of the contrast between the warm and coastal climate compared to the colder realities of the north. Zakynthos is sometimes nicknamed the Flower of the Levant, which is an adage to its past. The Venetians had taken control of the region from 1484 to 1797 before ceding the island back to global power at the time and finally returning to Greece.
The late 15th century saw the drastic rise of the Ottoman empire's expansion into Europe, marked by the collapse of Constantinople. This created a refugee crisis for eastern and Mediterranean people, who exited the country and sought help from the west. While the island was under Ottoman rule for about 4 years, the Republic of Venice had expanded outwards to establish more defensible frontiers against the ottomans during their golden age.
Although Zakynthos has a rich and diverse history, its amazing climate and attraction by many wealthy influencers have seen a drastic rise in many young adult tourists mainly between the ages of 18 to 30. This has exacerbated the "clubbing" culture in the area, establishing nightclubs, bars, and hotels in the originally formerly quiet villages of Alykanas and Laganas.