Molise was once shared with its neighbouring region of Abruzzo and was known as Abruzzo e Molise until they were split into two separate regions in 1963, this however did not take effect until 1970 and makes Molise the youngest region in Italy with a population of some 320,000 people and an area of 4,438 kmē (1,714 sq miles).
The region has two provinces: Campobasso and Isernia of which Campobasso is the regions capital.