It has an area of 6,594.44 square kilometres (2,546.13 sq mi) and a total population of 369,538 (as of 2017).

[2] The province is characterized by various natural landscapes, ranging from the mountain lakes of Monticchio, the Lucan forest, the Monte Sirino massif, the large National Park of Pollino (shared by Calabria) and the Tyrrhenian coast of Maratea.

In the 11th century, the area became part of the Duchy of Apulia, which was at the time ruled by the Normans.

From the 13th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Naples, though Potenza was ruled by local vassals.

The region has suffered from numerous earthquakes in historic times, and is still a seismically active area.