It has approximately 11,000 inhabitants and during the tourist season (May-September) its population reaches up to 200,000.
It is supposed (H. Pichler) that the island was created by a succession of four volcanic movements, the most important of which should be the third one, presumably lasting from 20000 BC to 13000 BC. A further important phenomenon should have happened around 9000 BC (C14 exams by Keller).
Its history is indeed very ancient (and rich of passages) and is witnessed by the recent retrievals of several necropolis and other archaeological treasures. Man seems to have inhabited the island already in 5000 BC. It was, with Sardinia, one of the few centers of the commerce of obsidian.
An interesting Aeolian Museum has recently been created to collect a relevant part of the retrievals (see here - in Italian).
During the Fascism, it was a destination for the confinement of political oppositors; among them, Emilio Lussu, Carlo Rosselli, Giuseppe Ghetti.
According to a local legend, the name "Lipari" should be derived from "Liparus", the leader of a people coming from Campania that invaded the then desert island around 13th century BC.