In 2023, the metropolitan area of New York-Newark-Jersey City had the biggest population in the United States. Based on annual estimates from the census, the metropolitan area had around 19.5 million inhabitants, which was a slight decrease from the previous year. The Los Angeles and Chicago metro areas rounded out the top three. What is a metropolitan statistical area? In general, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a core urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000 inhabitants – the smallest MSA is Carson City, with an estimated population of nearly 56,000. The urban area is made bigger by adjacent communities that are socially and economically linked to the center. MSAs are particularly helpful in tracking demographic change over time in large communities and allow officials to see where the largest pockets of inhabitants are in the country. How many MSAs are in the United States? There were 421 metropolitan statistical areas across the U.S. as of July 2021. The largest city in each MSA is designated the principal city and will be the first name in the title. An additional two cities can be added to the title, and these will be listed in population order based on the most recent census. So, in the example of New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York has the highest population, while Jersey City has the lowest. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts an official population count every ten years, and the new count is expected to be announced by the end of 2030.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA (MSA) (SDIPOP) from 2000 to 2024 about San Diego, residents, CA, population, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in New Orleans-Metairie, LA (MSA) (NORPOP) from 2000 to 2024 about New Orleans, LA, residents, population, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA (MSA) (SFCPOP) from 2000 to 2022 about San Francisco, residents, CA, population, and USA.

In 2021, the population of the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan area in the United States was about 1.26 million people. This is consistent with the previous year, when the population was around 1.27 million.

In 2023, the population of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area in the United States was about 4.34 million people. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, when 4.35 million people lived there.

In 2023, the population of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area in the United States was about 6.25 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 6.24 million people.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (MSA) (PORPOP) from 2000 to 2024 about Portland, OR, WA, residents, population, and USA.

In 2023, the population of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach in the U.S. was about 6.18 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 6.14 million people.

In 2021, the population of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metropolitan area in the United States was about 3.29 million people. This is was a slight decrease compared to the previous year, when the population was about 3.3 million.

In 2023, the population of the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metropolitan area in the United States was about 2.47 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 2.42 million people.

In 2023, the population of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area in the United States was about 2.7 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 2.66 million people.

In 2023, the population of the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metropolitan area in the United States was about 2.1 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 2.07 million people.

In 2023, the population of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area in the United States was about 9.26 million people. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, which was about 9.27 million.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in Oklahoma City, OK (MSA) (OKCPOP) from 2000 to 2024 about Oklahoma City, OK, residents, population, and USA.

In 2021, the population of the Memphis metropolitan area in the United States was about 1.34 million people. This is consistent with the previous year, when the population was also about 1.34 million people.

In 2023, the population of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area in the United States was about 4.04 million people. This was a slight decrease from the previous year, when the population was about 4.03 million.

In 2023, the population of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metropolitan area in the United States was about 5.1 million people. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when the population was about 5.02 million people.

In 2023, the population of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area in the United States was about 8.1 million people. This was a slight increase from the previous year, where the population was about 7.95 million people.

Graph and download economic data for Resident Population in Richmond, VA (MSA) (RCPPOP) from 2000 to 2024 about Richmond, VA, residents, population, and USA.